Summer Slump

My first summer slump arrived last week.

My disdain for summer weather, Tom's 12-day absence, multiple house-related problems and expenses, Will's week-long illness, Will's twice-daily bouts of tears and my accompanying twice-daily bouts of frustration and exasperation over peanut consumption, a somewhat catastrophic phone reset to 2011 factory settings, two rounds of swimmer's ear, falling behind on my writing assignments, sibling bickering, and sending my recently-sick boy off to camp for nearly a week have combined to leave me feeling less than enthused about summer vacation.

To be clear, I'm not complaining (except about the weather - I fully admit to complaining about the weather). Because while we've had a few bumps, the kids and I have also had great fun throughout the last three weeks: swimming lessons, track camp, dance intensive, ballet masterclass, vacation bible school, playdates and sleepovers with friends, trips to the movie theater and the library, and lots of cheering for our favorites in the World Cup. But now I'm in need of a little...I don't even know what I need. Maybe a little break from, "Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom?! Mom?! Mom?! MOM! MOM! MOM!" Maybe a little extra time in my day to catch up - and perhaps even get ahead - on work? Maybe a little less feeding, cleaning, laundering, and driving in favor of a little more reading and walking and watching the sun set?

This isn't my first-ever summer slump, and I'm sure it won't be my last summer slump. And last week a friend told me she'd had her first "I can't wait for the kids to go back to school" thought that afternoon...three weeks into summer vacation...so I know I'm not alone in experiencing these complicated emotions. What are your favorite remedies for summer slumps?

Thank you, Hallie, for providing me with an assortment of photos from which I can pull the perfect summer slump visual. In the end, I chose this one as it seems to best sum up summer slumps as a whole.

Ok, these three are pretty solid too.

Mine is staged, hers is authentic.