postcards for parents

Greetings!

Oops.  I send out a notice to the postcards from nowhere subscribers 
informing them that I'd be taking some time off this summer, but I 
just realized that not all of you also subscribe to that one, and 
you might be wondering where I've been!  Sorry about the oversight.  

I'll inform you officially right now that I'm taking it easy and 
just hanging out with the kids this summer, and I plan to return 
to our regular delivery schedule in September.

But ... since I'm here ... I might as well write a bit!  

It was tough deciding to revise the postcard schedule.  I really 
love sending these out each week!  When I know I have a writing 
deadline, each of my daily experiences brings me messages and 
insights and new ways of seeing things, which get stored differently 
in my memory when I know I'll need to retrieve them to tell you 
about them.  I like this heightened level of awareness ... it's food 
for my soul.  But for some reason, this summer there just isn't room 
for me to do all of the things I want to do, and be all of the things 
I want to be.  At least not so far.  

Turns out I've been suffering from a subclinical case of Supermom 
syndrome.  (Sure I can work and parent simultaneously!  I'll schedule 
Quality Time!  I'll maintain balance!  And good boundaries!  And 
all that other stuff you need to be all things to all people!)  

The symptoms stayed so mild as to go unrecognized during the school 
year.  Must be the heat that brought it to the surface again. 
(yeah ... that's it!  It's the heat!)  I also thought that 
since the kids were older they wouldn't need as much attention 
from me this summer, and so I'd be able to get lots of work done.  
Wrong again.

They still want me to play with them, and to listen to their stories, 
and to take them swimming and golfing and to Dairy Queen.  I spent 
the first week of summer feeling irritated by their interruptions 
and trying to block them out.  Thankfully they refused to be diverted.  

When the crossroad crisis occurred, I saw my choices mapped out in 
front of me:  look at the compass of my values to check my course, 
or spend the next 8 weeks barking at my kids to leave me alone.  
It didn't take too long to choose an option.  

My number one priority remains the same as it has been for the last 
eleven and a half years -- raising my kids to the best of my ability.  
I have consciously recommitted the focus of my attention.  If at all 
possible, I will stop what I am doing and give my children my full 
attention if they need or want to talk.  Moms of older kids tell me 
that the day comes all too soon when teens no longer want to spend 
time with their mom discussing the minutia of their day.  I don't 
want to wish this time of willingness away.  And I am certain that 
the nourishment my soul derives from writing and coaching will be 
waiting for me in September when they go back to school.  My work 
won't be growing up and moving away someday.  

So, goodbye for now.  I'll write again when I can, whenever that is, 
and at the very latest I'll see you in September.

Take care, and thanks for your patience.

karen