What a Difference Two Half-Days Make

Alas, Sam's first year of preschool has come to an end.  Pardon me while I break out a hankie. He'll be fine, I know, but will I?  What a difference two half-days have made this year --for him and especially for little ole me.  It's only six measley hours a week, even less when you account for pick-up and drop-off time, but you can cram an awful lot into that time if you have the desire.  And that I have had that burning desire.  Oh Lordy, have I ever. Heck, there was one Tuesday morning when I went to Target, Sears, Kohls, Ukrops, Kroger, Old Navy, and even a few more places I can't remember in the blur of it all.  

I've been able to go to doctor's appointments galore and meet friends at the Bellgrade Starbucks without my head swiveling around every thirty seconds to figure out what trouble Sam is into now.  And I can leave the coffee shop without everyone knowing his name from hearing me admonish him, "Now, Sam, we don't go through the trash," "Please, Sam, put that down," "Sam, please leave that nice lady alone while she drinks her latte," "Sam, stop that!" etc.

But wait, there is hope on the horizon -- CAMP!  Sam's got "camp" for four days for the first week in June and two other weeks later on in the summer.  The whole concept of "camp" for two-year-olds used to make me chuckle, but now it just makes me cheer!  Hallelujah!  Let's hear it for camp!  And four whole days in a row!  What will the heck I do with myself?  Don't you worry, I'll be just fine out there boosting the economy singlehandedly.

So today is Day One of Summer Vacation, and it has gone shockingly well, a harbinger of a great summer ahead, I hope.  I managed to bring Sam on more errands in a row than I usually ever do in a week with him in tow.  We hit the Post Office, usually a scene, without a scene. Then I risked it at Hallmark where he has been known to run around like a Tasmanian devil, pulling cards out everywhere with his sticky, sweaty hands. Not this time, only a little roughhousing with the wind chimes.  Not content with my milestone victories, I brought him SHOPPING, DISCOUNT SHOPPING at Steinmart, no less.  He did great, even meriting a lunch out at McDonalds with a new Speed Racer car with his kids' meal! 

Bring on the summer!  I've got a great little companion, at least today, so I am goign to try to savor every moment.  Don't worry -- I'll still savor camp, too!

LibbY