one summer in july

Last week I got a call from a girlfriend. Her husband was taking her kids on a two week camping trip, and she was home alone. Home. Alone. All by herself. Without kids. Or her husband.

She wondered if I would be interested in helping her jazzify the homestead while the cats were away. YES I WOULD BE INTERESTED. When my husband came home from work, he watched all of our children (none of whom are on a two week camping trip leaving me home alone all by myself) so I could go over to Girlfriend's house and brain storm.

And were there ever storms-a-braining!

Over the course of the next five days, we tore down wallpaper and repainted one girl's room. Cleaned out a room in the basement and turned it into another girl's bedroom. We downsized accessories. There were rugs purchased and curtains sewn. Pillows. Lamps. Blankets. Throws.

My husband has been a real trooper. He's always great about sharing the childcare load, but the load is especially heavy when the baby is cutting his first teeth. (Two. At a time.) The project is drawing to a close now. There are only three rooms left in need of love, and we've got just over a week to finish. I can't wait to hear how her family reacts to the changes. They don't even know what we've been up to.

Oh, the fun we've had! Initially, I was having visions of my life and career once my kids are all in school. Visions of me, doing my thing. Re-entering the work force. Coming out of hiatus. And then thoughts about starting before they're all in school. We could make that work, right?

Sure!

Yes!

But..
....
.....then I would come home from Girlfriend's house, and I would behold my house. My house looks a whole lot different when I've been gone. The kids are all happy. And fed. And relatively clean.

But, everything we own is on display across the living room floor.

And my husband is a little twitchy.

He says he's fine. He's happy that I'm having a blast, and even happier that I'm bringing in a little money in the process. But this isn't working....wouldn't work....not in the long haul. It's fine for a few days one summer. But it wouldn't be fine every day all the time. Not for us.

Everyone is feeling the interruption in our rhythm. The baby's sleep is seriously messed up. I'm sure his teeth have a lot to do with that, but I know he senses the change. My big kids are squirrellier, and my girl keeps asking me where I'm going. Even when I'm not going anywhere.

So, it's been real. It's been fun. And it's been real fun. But when it's done, it will be done. For a little while longer.

I can wait. I know that when the time is right, it will all be right.

A l r i g h t.