Post-Vacation Resolutions

Recently, we got back from a fabulous week on the Outer Banks with my husband's extended family.  It was peaceful, relaxing, entertaining.  There was great conversation and delicious food. (And did I mention the margaritas?)  The house we stayed in was large enough to accommodate the entire tribe and sat right on the edge of the ocean.  It was exquisite.

Arriving home, I was struck by the overwhelming desire to make changes and start new routines.  Maybe we had gotten into a summer rut and needed to break free.  Maybe it's the thought that in just 4 weeks, school begins again.  Maybe just living with other people for a week gives me a glimpse to other sides of life. 

Whatever the cause, I had the familiar feeling of dawn breaking and ideas forming... just like... it took me a moment to figure it out... New Years Day.  A feeling of needing to clear the clutter (literally and mentally) and start anew.

My house needs an intervention.  My kids survived for a whole week with a small bag of toys and their Nintendo DS's.  Of course there was the pool and the ocean and lots of cousins, but I'm quite sure we could survive with a LOT less toys.  And then I would probably yell less often, right? Less mess, less stress?  

I'd like to redecorate and plant some flowers, maybe not quite like the beach cottage, but I'd like a more pulled-together look than I currently have.  I want to cook more and expand my culinary repertoire.  Take better care of myself.  Get pedicures and the occasional massage.  Exercise.

Then, post-vacation reality hits.  Everything from the car gets vomited into the living room.  Suitcases, beach toys, souvenirs.  Did I mention the sand?  There are charging cables and power cords everywhere.  And even a watermelon in the middle of the dining room floor. 

I am quickly overwhelmed.

My kids have missed their toys, so they proceed to take every single thing off the shelves of the playroom and scatter toys all over the house.  Now there is stuff EVERYWHERE.  And I have no one to share a pitcher of margaritas with to make it all better.

And then, the fighting begins.  "He looked at me."  "She's touching me."  "He hurt my feelings."  Bah!  Cue the cousins.  Oh wait!  There are no cousins.  They've gone back home, far away from us.

And my husband's work has missed him.  Our first week back, he's logged some seriously long hours.  My hopes of getting out in the evening and strolling the aisles of our local nursery, picking out shrubs and perennials are dashed.  Instead, I'm flying solo from early in the morning until late at night.  

My house is still a disaster.  (It would really take the crew from Clean House to get it together at this point.)  My kids are still fighting.  My garden is distinctly unadorned.  (But I did try a new recipe this week!)

This is SO NOT my plan.  But then I had another familiar feeling.  The one that hits around February 1st every year.  When you realize you have been overzealous in your New Year's resolutions and they are quickly slipping by the wayside.

Most of the time, there are reasons for the chaos in our lives.  While there is surely room for improvement, I have four great reasons why my house is a mess.  My kids are playing, we are having fun, going to the pool, eating out and enjoying the summer.  That's more important than planting flowers and sweeping up all this ever-loving sand right now.

This is an original DC Metro Moms post.  Sue writes about life and laundry at My Party of 6.