I Want a Do-Over

Wednesday was pretty much crap.

Joe had to go out of town yesterday afternoon, so we spent the early part of the day buying new school shoes for the boys. They were picking on each other the entire time we were out. I was about to lose my mind.

I think summer break has lasted long enough and I'm ready for school to start again. I know it sounds horrible to say it, but it's the truth. The boys have been fighting with one another. They have been disobedient. They have been wild. I think they need to be separated for awhile. They've been together too long. This happens every summer.

I'm also experiencing summer's remorse. I had a long list of things for us to do this summer, and we didn't do them. I wanted to take them to the free movies (at least once). It didn't happen. I wanted to take them to a nearby lake to swim. It didn't happen. I wanted to take them bowling. It didn't happen. And here, as usual, I beat myself up over these trivial things.

For the most part, I think the boys enjoyed their summer. I mean, it's not like we didn't do anything. We went to Sesame Place. Taylor spent a week at boy scout camp. Carter spent a week at cub scout day camp and Taylor volunteered the entire week. We went geocaching. We went to the local 4-H fair. Oh, and let's not forget the carnival. And we are taking our vacation next week (the week before school starts). But for some reason, it seems we missed out on something. (Maybe positive attitudes from my boys.) Almost everything I suggest is met with a groan. They are too old for fun, I guess.

And, when you throw in four boys within a 4 1/2 year period, there is lots of competition and jealousy. And that makes for a grumpy mom. I fussed at my boys a lot yesterday.

It doesn't help that I have incurred a knee injury. It hurts to walk up and down steps. To carry Sawyer while walking. To put Sawyer in his car seat. To squat or bend. Pretty much everything I do. I've been taking ibuprofen since Monday and there has been no relief in pain. And that makes me grumpy.

And to top it all off, I learned last night that the cemetery where my sister is buried was vandalized. And, some juvenile delinquent shot her headstone with paintballs. Her headstone says "Families are Forever," and that was their target. My brother was able to clean most of it off, but still. There were 87 headstones vandalized. Some with paintballs. Others toppled over. Some broken. Some of the broken ones were of Civil War veterans. And the broken bits were hurled through the windows of a local business, along with this wooden post. I have just learned that two teenagers have now been charged.

See what I mean? I want a do-over. I want my Wednesday back.

(Photo is from the local newspaper.)