I can’t believe it is almost the middle of June already.  Where as 2011 gone?  I think part of my problem is that my year has frequently been marked, at least for many years, by other milestones.  This year is unique.  The only thing to deal with, as far as summer is concerned, is does everyone have the clothing they need in their drawers.

In the past, when my children were younger – that should read the oldest being anywhere from 5 on up, I would start the summer planning in February.  There were camps to check out, budgets to make.  Then, once decisions were made the dreaded logistics would start to form.  Could I drop kids off and do pick up?  Did I know anyone else going to the same combination of camps/classes?  Could we carpool?

Let’s just look back about 17 years which would be the last summer I was pregnant.  I was very pregnant as the youngest, that would be #6, will turn 17 in July.  This means that there were five children to plan for between the ages of almost four and almost ten.  #1 was going to soccer camp.  Numbers 2 and 3 were going to a summer enrichment program that the local school district ran.  #4, now that I think about it, she was going to summer enrichment also.  #5 was the issue.  What would I do with him for the summer?  He did have some speech issues and speech therapy to attend over the summer but there needed to be fun also.

Now, let me tell you about the lovely weather.  I was extremely pregnant with #6 being due in August.  Yes, I said earlier in this post that he will be 17 in July.  This is the only, even through a pregnancy of twins, pregnancy that I was not 100% healthy throughout the term.  I had developed pregnancy-induced hypertension.  My OB had tried everything to keep my blood pressure down – (those of you pregnant now realize this was “back in the dark ages”) a baby aspirin a day, actual BP medication, instructions to get in a cool pool every day.  I had no edema but did have BP so high that I was making weekly trips to the OB.

The last week in July rolled around and #1 headed to one end of the county, opposite where we lived, for soccer camp with a good friend.  #2 and #3 and #4 headed off to summer enrichment for a half day.  #5 was going to stay at a friend’s house while I went to the OB’s office for my weekly visit.  I had no doubt I was going to be pregnant for at least another couple weeks as my due date was at least 10 days off and I had never been on time since #1.  Big difference was this pregnancy was not a healthy one – that old BP issue.

 

I went in for that check-up to be asked what time had I eaten breakfast.  Okay, I can roll with this.  Breakfast had been at 7 a.m.  It was now 10-ish.  I was told to find a sitter for my kids, call my hubby and tell him to meet me at the hospital.  Go home, get your bag and meet me at the hospital was what the OB said.  Do not eat another thing and you will have a baby by 3 this afternoon.  Probably what every pregnant woman wants to hear except I was on soccer camp pick-up.  #s 2, 3 & 4 were bused to the elementary school which was just shy of a mile from our house.  And, then, there was #5.  What would I do with him if I managed to get everyone else picked up and brought home to a sitter?  Thank heavens my next door neighbor had two daughters that babysat for me.

 

I know probably not the summer story you would want to hear.  I use to plan it all out – down to who was doing pick up when.  Now, after having my plans come crashing down that summer 17 years ago, I have played fast and loose with summers. I have had kids on all-star baseball while I worked.  It always manages to work out.

 

Do you plan your children’s summers?  Do you even “just let kids be kids?”  What is one of your favorite summer memories?  I am a member of SocialMoms.com and summer memories is a blogging prompt for today.