The First Day of Camp

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Over the weekend, I tackled the chore that stresses me out the most – cleaning the fish tank. I traumatized one of the fish the last time I cleaned out the tank, and it took him almost a week to recover. I worried about him constantly, and I just didn’t think I could handle it again.

Our two Bettas live harmoniously in a small tank with a divider. Swimmy-Blue-Fin (his name changes a lot) would spend a lot of time flaring at Bubbles, who began flaring back. James thought this was too stressful for the fish, and he suggested separate tanks for them.

It so happens that I had two clear plastic boxes that I got as a kind of party favor at the last all-day crop. I had a feeling they would make perfect homes for our pets. Wouldn’t you know, it worked out tremendously. The transfer went very smoothly, and no signs of trauma. I think they like their new homes. What a relief!

I’ve been watching some TV lately. Here are my thoughts on the subject:

1. I still DVR Gilmore Girls even though I own every box set. I still love every episode.

2. ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars looks horrible, and I’m tired of seeing the commercials.

3. I am so happy Burn Notice is back.

4. I can’t wait for the return of Psych.

5. I think I find Hal Sparks funnier than James.

6. Sometimes to fall asleep, I change the channel to Nick Jr.

7. I really like Sitting Ducks even though I usually fall asleep during the episode.

8. Why can’t my children actually sit down and watch TV?

9. I stayed up late watching Bill Cosby Himself. It was both funny and sad.

10. I haven’t watched The Soup in a couple weeks, and I’m having withdrawals. I have no idea what’s going on.

What kind of TV have you been watching lately?

It’s June already?!

The kids began camp this week. We’re still not in the routine yet. After trial and error, I’ve discovered it takes me almost 30 minutes to drop them off. Yes, from the time we park and walk in to the time I leave to go to work is about 30 minutes!

Why, do you ask? Because the drop-off process has changed from the previous years we’ve attended this camp. We used to sign in at the front office and walk the youngest to the downstairs classroom and let the oldest go to his upstairs classroom.

This year, I have to walk each child to wherever the class happens to be and find the counselor with the sign-in sheet and sign them in. So we first drop off Manchild’s things in his cubby and then walk him to the pre-school playground and sign him in. Then we go upstairs and sign in Jumpshot. Finally we go into Diva’s classroom and sign her in and give her many hugs and kisses before I walk downstairs to the car.

Friday was even worse because in addition to signing them in at each respective classroom, I had to also pay for their pizza and snowballs separately in each classroom as well. Guess who didn’t know that little fact and have change available? Right, me. So after getting them all signed in, I had to go to the front office and get change (because I also had to pay for a field trip) and then repeat the process again.

Oh and you have to do this process to pick them up as well. I don’t understand the logic. With children, why wouldn’t we be required to check in at the front desk? Why are we allowed to roam the hallways? Where is the safety in that?

So I’m back to frustrating mornings. I wake up, not wanting to get up. Diva doesn’t want to get up either, so I spend my morning prodding her along, pleading, threatening, bargaining. Then we race over to camp, only to spend half an hour dropping everyone off. Then I race over to work, only to be late, which means I have to work later, causing me to get home later.

It’s been an exhausting week.

Why I think date nights are important:

1. So we have something to talk about besides the latest annoying habit the kids have learned.
2. To laugh together, even it’s at my expense.
3. To remember that we are people who happen to be parents.
4. James keeps me up-to-date on current events because I am just too sensitive for the news.
5. To look forward to Friday night when I can be alone with my husband because I do like him after all.