Well, August sure is rolling by quickly. What a month! I've been busy, busy doing all sorts of un-housewifey things like putting on my teacher/small business owner hat on and getting the school ready for the new year. That has meant hours of planning songs, seasonal crafts, gardening projects, etc. along with painting a new space for the school, decorating this new space, getting all my ducks in a row for the business side of the school (new hire, insurance, inspections, blah, blah, blah...).
Poor Bea, has been under my wing throughout this whole painful transitional period. There has been a whole lot of juggling between being teacher, business owner, mama, wife, etc. Trust me, we've had some moments that have not been pretty. Turns out, neither she nor I are good at transitions. I think she is a little nervous about the new school year. She knows that there will be new children. Some of her dear friends are moving on to kindergarten. And I'm sure it's all unsettling to her. This change.
Sometimes I doubt whether I'm being the best mama to her - putting her in a situation where she has to share me with others. And right now it all feels huge and sort of scary - to both of us. Then I remember how much fun she has forming friendships and playing with the other children, doing her work, and being with her mama. For the most part, she does tremendously well. But there are days...that are more difficult for her. Such is life, I suppose. She'd have bad days no matter the situation. Life isn't perfect.
Anyhoo, that is more than I thought I was going to share about THAT!
We're STILL spending a lot of time indoors. Which is not helping our coping skills in dealing with the challenges of the unknown. We continue to have triple digit temperatures. Tomorrow we will break a new record: 70 days of triple digit heat. The most ever. And no end in sight. Ugh...
Two words: dust bowl.
The worse part of all of this is that we have still received no rain. Not a drop. Scary. I've never lived through such a tremendous dry spell. What a slow motion natural disaster this has been. We have no idea when it will be over.
We are down to four chickens. Two have died recently, we presume, from heat exhaustion.
This post is turning into a real downer, very quickly, so I'll stop typing and just post some pretty pictures.
This photo reminds me so much of the coming of fall. Except that I know when I took this photo it did not feel like fall. Still, the sun does not lie. A new season is ahead somewhere in the future.
Don't worry, I'm fast becoming the water nazi around here. I let her play in the sprinkler for about 15 minutes. She was not happy about the short time limit. Water is king these days.
The water from the pool gets recycled to the trees or to small buckets that the birds and squirrels can drink out of. I'm seriously contemplating siphoning bath and dish water. Anyone with experience??
Despite the news above, not all is doom and gloom here. There's a sunny side too. I promise to be more upbeat the next time you see me here. But for now, you just have to know...it's been one of those days, eh weeks, eh months...
I have missed your posts and wondering how you are! It seems like a busy time for the both of you, with the start of the new school year fast approaching. I am looking forward to reading about your school seasonal activities! With time, both you and Bea should settle into your new rhythm, and the new season.
Here's wishing you some rain soon.
Posted by: mamaUK | August 24, 2011 at 03:27 AM
surely the weather will cool in the following weeks and bring some rain with it? here's hoping.....
Posted by: Stephinie | August 24, 2011 at 10:01 AM
Oh man, and here I was complaining about our hot summer but it seems that the cooler weather has finally arrived (and brought some rain along with it). I know how much our mood was affected by the weather so I am hoping there is relief in sight for you all. I also look forward to hearing more about your school plans! And whenever I start to feel that doubt or guilt creep in, I just remember "I am exactly where I need to be".
Posted by: Tanya | August 24, 2011 at 01:16 PM
The long term weather forecast predict another several months (at least) of warmer and drier weather. La Nina is to blame. When the Pacific's waters cool, this is what usually happens here in Texas. So let's pray for the return of the El Nino weather pattern soon! Can you guess what I've been spending a lot of time googling lately. ;)
Posted by: Nichole | August 24, 2011 at 02:07 PM
Hi Tanya,
This summer has been a very long one in regards to the weather! :) Yes, I think it's got us all feeling a little batty. We are due for some relief for sure! It will come soon hopefully.
I peeked at your blog. So lovely! All those boys and then your sweet girl... What a delight! I have four brothers - three of them older than me!
Posted by: Nichole | August 24, 2011 at 02:20 PM
Aw...thanks...I missed being around here more too! When I am absent it usually means that life is busy.
Yes, I think Bea and I will do just fine once our new school rhythm begins!! It will be nice to be with all of the children again. We've missed them so!
Posted by: Nichole | August 24, 2011 at 02:23 PM
glad you're back!
so sorry about your chickens and continued horrible heat and drought..... blech (to put it lightly).
I started working again a few days ago~ at an afternoon art program for children from 3-6pm in the same building as the Montessori school I worked for before C. She comes with me. It can go well or (mostly, so far) not so very well. I have the same questions about whether it's for the best or not, and if it's good for her or too difficult on her, but I think we'll find our groove. What a strange transition, though.
cheers,
A
Posted by: amanda (sweetpotatoclaire) | August 24, 2011 at 09:24 PM
Oh my goodness. It would be fun to compare notes. There's not too many of us mamas playing both roles at the same time. Some days are just wonderful and then some are quite hard. Luckily, for us, it's only three morning a week.
In the end, I know it's good for her because she IS in a good place. A place that in nurturing and wholesome. She is loved there by so many people. If it weren't these challenges it would be others, you know?
Posted by: Nichole | August 24, 2011 at 09:48 PM
Yuck. And yes you do sound well read! Im sure once you B transition to the new schedule things will be very well again.
Posted by: Stephinie | August 25, 2011 at 08:03 AM
oh, wow. That is so crazy. Sending you thoughts of coolness and water.
No one likes the rough patches but you, out of anyone, can handle it with grace.
XO
Posted by: ladycordelia | August 26, 2011 at 04:28 PM
"No one likes the rough patches but you, out of anyone, can handle it with grace. "
When I read that, first I laughed and then I thought, "gah, if she only knew...!"
I feel like the queen of stumbling almost all of the time.
Posted by: Nichole | August 31, 2011 at 04:53 PM