’Twas the Middle of SUMMER BREAK…
by Sharon Fuentes
’Twas the middle of summer break
And all through the house,
Every creature was stirring
Mom, both kids and her spouse.
Wet bathing suits and towels
Lying on the floor without care
With hopes that the Laundry Fairy
Would soon see them there.
And I in my tank top,
Pony tail and baseball cap,
Wishfully dreaming that somehow
I could just take a nap!
When suddenly from the top
of the stairs, I did hear
Yelling and screaming,
A gasp and then tears.
I dashed up the steps
To see what was awry,
To see who did what to whom
And for goodness sake, WHY?
When what to my wondering
Eye I did see?
A pile of junk about
As high as my knee.
Books and electronics
Sprawled across the loft floor.
An empty pizza box
Cheesy handprints on the door
“What happened?” I shouted.
“Just look at this mess!”
My boy nonchalantly replied,
“I was looking for the board to play chess.”
As fast as lightning
The anger it came,
I shouted out loud
Even used their middle names.
I could feel my blood pressure rising
I was starting to drool,
And I snapped when I heard,
“We’re bored; can we go to the pool?”
Steam spouted from my ears
My face turned beet red,
Another month of this
And I’d surely need meds!
30 something more days
Followed by 30 something more nights
Filled whining, complaining,
Arguing and fights!
With no time for working
Or just to sit and think;
Is enough to drive
This Mama to drink!
I took a deep breath
And was about to turn around
When my daughter held up
An old album she found.
“Mom, come here,
Come take a look,”
She said as she browsed
Through her own baby book.
And in spite of my mood
I could not help but grin
At the picture of my newborn
And the picnic basket she laid in.
That cute button nose
That round baby belly
That shook when she laughed
Like a bowl full of jelly.
I sat down beside her
Ready to travel back in time,
She held out her hand
I held out mine.
She let out a sigh
And crinkled her nose,
As I talked on and on
About how quickly time goes.
One minute a baby
The next you’re a teen,
Filled with so many firsts
And fun stuff in between.
Before you know it they’ll be in college
Get a job, perhaps move away,
They’ll forget about old Mom
Except on Mother’s Day.
So, fellow Mamas, remember this
Summer break doesn’t last,
Enjoy your time with your kids
Because childhood goes by way too fast!