In search of a true summer break

We intended, as we do every year, to enjoy this summer heading out of town, hitting a beach or two, learning new things about ourselves... basically showing the kids what life's about.

I, personally, was looking forward to spending more time with the kids, especially since the first three are crossing thresholds -- they grow so much in the summer! -- and it would only be a matter of time before they favor going out with friends or even staying home surfing the Internet or watching TV over going out with me and the hubby.

Visions of blogging and journaling activities, scrapbooking (my poor daughters have been waiting several summers for this to happen... *sigh*), or even some mini writing workshops kept me excited towards the end of their school year.

As things turned out, we have had some wake-up call situations to address first before even planning all these activities. Amidst the daily routine, squabbles, and adjustments to those going through hormonal and emotional adjustments in our household (more of this in my next blogs), hovering over our heads this summer is the urgent need to find good schools for our daughters to transfer to.

While we rejoice that our son, the eldest, has made it into one of the most prestigious exclusive traditional high schools after years in a non-traditional, artistic, laid-back and tolerant environment, we are apprehensive about making choices for the girls.

For our boy, the move is like stepping into another level in his life. The change is a good thing that'll put an end to long hair, dirty jeans and sneakers, for starters. It's time for some discipline to balance and prepare him for real life where it's not always okay to just be and do "whatever". That he will not necessarily always be in a secure, small fishbowl, but may sometimes find himself swimming with the big guys in an ocean.

During the emotionally moving graduation of our son last month, the value of moving on with friends you've known all your school life hit me. While the timing was right for him, our girls, on the other hand, will be pulled out of this small, relatively carefree and creatively nurturing environment, into what could possibly be a traumatic place. Our older daughter has two whole school years to go before high school, while the other has three. One is assertive, headstrong, impulsive and adventurous, the other obedient, docile, and in many ways still a baby.

This younger one, has grown very attached to classmates she has known since nursery school. The older one, while pretty tight with her posse, sees meeting new people and being in a new place like an adventure. She's even excited!

But, see, there's that possibility that the move might make an impact they don't need at this stage (you know what happens to new students in many schools). That they develop properly into their respective teenage phases with the least emotional and psychological trauma, is such a huge responsibility we never expected to address at this point, but it has been -- is it right to say, dumped? -- put into our lives nonetheless, and we must get on with making these enormous and delicate choices. And summer's not going to be here forever.... arggghhhhh!

It's been a long rollercoaster of a day with trips to the dentist, a drive back and forth to a party and sleepover -- one of our son's, "this may be the last time we will get together like this in years!" celebrations, tyding up the house, and racing to meet work deadlines. Now it's back to preparing dinner, one of life's daily realities! I'm in danger of putting off the task of planning this school hunt again.

I need to take a step... two steps!... back and go to the why's and the wherefore's. Put it all in perspective, and aim to make a sound judgement. I'll probably be able to sort it all out in my next break. Oops.