It is absolutely ridiculous that another summer has come and gone. When the girls got off the bus for the last time in June, I felt overwhelmed by how I would fill all those days on the calendar until that bus rolled up again this morning. It's kind of the opposite today...my house and my car are quiet, and I'm feeling overwhelmed by how I will fill all those hours until they come home. Funny the way it is.
I have declared today a day of leisure...a day for me to reflect on the past 12 weeks with my girls and pat myself on the back for the three of us making it out alive. There were moments I wanted to throw in the towel because there was just no pleasing these kids. Things that came out of their mouths such as "So we're only doing ONE fun thing today?" and "I'm tired of riding my bike with you every day!" were like daggers through my heart. Don't they realize how lucky they are that they get to spend summers with their mom and not in day care? Don't they realize how lucky they are to grow up at the beach and start their day with a bike ride along a boardwalk people pay thousands of dollars to visit for just one short week? Don't they realize how lucky they are that their dad wants to do nothing but play in the ocean with them and teach them how to surf on his weekends off of work? Well, the answer to all of those questions is no. They don't realize. They're kids. I can't expect them to. But what I did try to do this summer was teach them there's a work/play balance in life we all strive to maintain. That and force them to ride their bikes with me.
So really, what will I do now? Plenty. I'll continue to care for my nephews anywhere from 10-20 hours a week, depending on the week. I'll volunteer a small chunk of time in the girls' school when I can. I'll get my house better organized, starting with my own closet. I'll get my runs in right after my girls get on the bus instead of waiting until after 11 like I did last year with Camryn in afternoon kindergarten, which means when you see me out in public before noon, there's a good chance I'll have showered, which was not the case last year. I'll pour my heart into Fancy Fonts and try to better my best each time I pick up a paint pen or paint brush. I'll add more items to the Etsy shop and continue on this track to global domination.
And I've got something new on the horizon that is most likely going to be the greatest thing I've ever gotten dragged into doing. This fall, I will be an assistant coach for Girls on the Run. Girls on the Run is a nationwide program whose mission, to put it simply, is to "inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun,
experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running." It's a 12 week program where the kids practice twice a week and celebrate with a 5k in December. Being involved in a running club is something I had thought about doing but was afraid to make the jump, especially in the fall when Fancy Fonts is at its busiest. But when a friend of mine asked if I'd be her assistant, I simply couldn't say no. Aside from this woman being a phenomenal runner, she is an all around gem of a human being whom I personally stand to learn so much from. I am honored (and quite shocked, really) that she thought to ask me to help her, and I can't wait to put our brains together with our little group of girls. It took a little coaxing for Brynn to want to be in the program (I think she thought it would be running laps around the bus loop!), but I'm thrilled she eventually agreed. Camryn is too young to officially join, but she'll have no choice but to be at the practices with me, so maybe she'll learn a thing or two as well.
As for my own Fancy little feet, they're starting to accumulate the miles again. It was a tough summer for me mentally as I worked my way back from plantar fasciitis. That makes two summers in a row that I've been rehabbing an injury, and that ain't cool. But the universe seems to have rhyme and reason, and sometimes we just have to step back to see what that rhyme and reason is. This injury allowed me to spend time with my girls every other morning as they rode their bikes along with me on my runs (or "runs" would be more appropriate). It also allowed me to be Mr. Fancy's #1 supporter as he trained his tail off for his first half Ironman distance triathlon. Unlike when we trained for the same marathon and had to juggle schedules to ensure we both got our miles in, his training took top priority and I got out when I could. Right on cue, my foot is feeling better and tolerating my increased running time well. As for racing this fall, that's TBD. The only race that's a definite (assuming my foot stays on its current trajectory to being healthy) is the Wicked 10K next month, and that's only because I signed up for it the day after last year's when the rates were super cheap! I'm currently of the mindset of if I race, I race. If I do nothing more than get in healthy miles this fall, that's more than fine too.
And just like that, the school day is over and it's time to head down to the bus stop. I'm excited to see what this new school year brings for both my girls and for me. Hopefully it will include a little more of this blogging thing.
