I still remember the feeling this day brought about all too well.
The last day of the school year.
No more homework. No more setting an alarm. But mainly...freedom to do whatever I wanted to do. For months and months. And usually that meant all summer at Seablue (the neighborhood pool) with my best fried, Betty. I'm talking every. single. day.
But today it's about my kids and they had a great last day. And, as you may have guessed, are officially wiped out tonight. Each went to a swim party after school thanks to the amazing friends I've been blessed with in my life, because this momma had to work. And even later than I planned on thanks to an overzealous investor we had in town., but that's another story.
I went and picked up the kids. Brought them home. Got their sweet, little, slightly-sunburnt and over-tired bodies in dry clothes and had them lay down and rest briefly so I could finish some work and then cook spaghetti for dinner.
We sat down at the table and ate while hearing about their 'beastly' last day of school.
Beastly?
"Yeah mom...that's like a kid term for 'awesome' and you're just a wee-bit too old to use it," advises Ben.
"Excuse me?!" I reply.
And then comes the even more interesting 'word'...
"Ben...don't you know mom is a PYT?!" says Shelby with a huge grin, attempting to defend her mom, while at the same time letting us know she had learned a new word of her own.
Apparently Michael Jackson's music really does transcend generations.
So dinner is done. Kitchen is clean. Ice cream cones are served. Scout is walked. Actually, Scout's very entertaining chasing of the fireflies and meeting a new friend (chocolate lab named Stonewall) is done and I start to relax.
My favorite time of night commenced. We piled up on my bed and have "Family Fun Night", as Shelby likes to call it. Tonight, we cuddled together and watch "Gnomeo and Juliet" which was great except when the couple divorce and she takes her yard pink flamingo with her when she leaves, which in turn breaks the heart of the pink flamingo who gets left behind. And then, of course to add insult to injury, loses a leg when the owner pulls him out of the ground...and Shelby loses it.
I mean all-out crying.
I remind her since it's not a Disney movie (sorry Disney...you kill off too many main characters) and I'm willing to bet by the end of the movie, he will find love again with another pink flamingo. Which (thank you very much) he does.
After the movie they tell me of the friends they have learned won't be back at their school next year and how thankful they are to still be there. I make mention again (just to make sure) that we can still rent a house for the price I'm paying in rent for the apartment and they insist, "No! PLEASE let us stay at our school with our friends."
Which is fine with me. No, apartment living isn't the *best*, but it also hasn't been the worst thing. It's made me thankful for things I had in a house and now miss, not to mention it's made me very aware of the things I had and now realize I don't need.
God never has failed me. He placed me with a friend when I was young who I am still friends with to this day. We don't talk all the time, but I know without a doubt she is there for me anytime. Anyplace. And as time has moved on, I've discovered she isn't the only friend I have who is classified as a "go-to" friend.
I recently had a discussion with Shelby about how real friends aren't 'jealous' when they play with other friends. If she really wants her friends to be happy, she shouldn't make it about her. She should be happy her friends have other friends. And she should have many friends. I shared with her not all friends are 'best' friends, because those special ones come along far-and-few between. But we should be friendly to all and be happy when others have people they can turn to. I tried getting the point across to be happy if they are happy and there for them when they can be. It's a lot to take in for an 8 year-old brain! Heck...seems to be a lot for some adults to take in sometimes! :-)
I really pray my kids have friends who they know they can always turn to and who they will always be around for, as well. It may not necessarily be anyone they know now, but one day I hope they have the types of friends in which time and distance won't shake their bond. Life gets hectic sometimes and our attention has to shift to a type of triage mode, while others may still on cruise-control. Understanding and balance...our forever-friends provide that.
Always remember and never forget: With forever-friends, it doesn't matter how often you talk, it only matters what you say when you do.
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