I’m loving summer, and today…today contained all the best about summer, a two-and-a-half hour playdate and the companionship of friendly folks, a post-lunch nap for mama, some time for sketching and creating, a brats and juicy-ripe corn-on-the-cob supper and some time spent staking tomato plants.

I’m ending the day with a happy, relaxed mood, a new sketch in the computer and a pile of typewriter key and button hairpins. Oh, and tomato plant-scented skin.

Life’s pretty good. 

With just a few days left until I’m trapped in the house with a small child all day, every day, I’m starting to think more about what we need to do over the summer to keep us all sane.

Don’t get me wrong; I love my son deeply, and I’m not at all a person who needs to run here, there and everywhere constantly.  On the other hand, J needs child-age companions, and although I may act like one from time to time, I’m not a good enough substitute.  As a result, I’m on the hunt for some alternative, possibly weekly plans for the summer.

We’re covered for a few weeks…mostly because T has to be the one to deal with it next week as I’m teaching summer school for most of the day.  Then, there’s the fact that as soon as I’m done with that next Friday afternoon, I’m picking up J and we’re driving to Cousin E’s house so that I can spend some quality days with my sis and J can play with one of his favorite cousins.

After that, though, I’m drawing a blank.

I’ve joined a local online group run by a post-adoption resource center, and although I was hoping I’d get an instant response from several parents that they’d love to befriend my son and I, it’s a pretty low-key group, and no one has answered back.  They do have a playdate in July that I’m planning on going to, but it’s an hour away, so it’s not something I want to do frequently.

The local Parks and Rec department isn’t offering anything for the under 4 crowd.  Kindermusik or anything else like it doesn’t seem to be available anywhere nearby.

Are we destined for a summer of 2-people pool parties and archaeology digs in the sandbox?

‘Cause this is the last week of school, and I’d rather skip it.  Horrible to admit, isn’t it?  I am a teacher, after all.  I’m supposed to want to wring every last drop of learnin’ out of every single minute.  Hah.  Maybe I would, if the kids hadn’t spent all of last week trying to invent new and unique ways to get out of their seats.

I’m tired.

Yeah, here I am, whining, when many of you are either looking forward to having a full summer at home with kidlets who leave toy and sand-laced detritus trails of their own all over your house OR actually have to get up most mornings of the summer to go to work.

After next week’s round of summer school, J will be my alarm clock most mornings, which is way better than the shrill screech I normally wake up to at 5 a.m.

(Maybe that’s why I’m tired…getting up at 5 a.m., working until 3:30, rushing around after J for a few hours at home and then settling back in for homework by 7 p.m, it’s a long day.  Maybe not the longest in the world, but I’m a whiner at heart.)

I’m looking forward to my days at home:  gardening (which, at this point, is mostly just tilling and pulling weeds), strawberry jam-making, photo card designing, camera-toting, blog reading and playing Sims 2.  And taking care of the J man, of course.

My lord.  If that’s all that happens this summer, you’re in for a load of boredom if you plan on reading this during the next few months.

Wait.

Strike that.

Beginning the first day after summer school, we’re starting a new chapter in our lives.

Potty training.

Yeah.  Poop, pee and angst.  I’m sure it’ll be not only disgusting, but strangely fascinating for you all, too.  Stay tuned.