This summer

This summer has been a bit on the challenging side.  I am not sure if it is the heat which seems relentless.  I am not sure if it is the rental which just isn't big enough.  I am not sure if it is an alignment of stars which put all three children at a wing spreading stage of development.  I am not sure if it is the combination of volunteer work and new house building which finds me with too few hours for fun.  It is probably the combination of all of the above.  At the end of each day I feel like I am battered and bruised from battling my little ones quests to arrange their world to their liking, rules be damned.

So this morning I found myself in yet another battle of wills with the middle one.  He is so stubborn.  Unfortunately for him, I am more stubborn.  (on a side note, it is so sad when you pass down your personal challenges to your child and have to watch them struggle with things that have been difficult for you always).  After his stand-off lead him to the entire day in his room to "think about his behavior." I took off to the bathroom.  I shut and locked the door and cried quietly so they could not smell the defeat I felt.  But the locked door gave me a few minutes peace and allowed me to realized something grand.  In just four weeks I will get to pee by myself again!  It has been more than ten years since I last peed (or showered...I just realized too!) by myself.  But, in just four glorious weeks, I will get to have the bathroom to myself Monday - Friday from 9 to 4.  Oh the little joys in life can so turn the most horrible of storms into rays of hope on the horizon.