School starts in 1 month!!!!!

While many stay at home Moms might hate that school starts on 1 month- I am thrilled!!!  The doesn't mean I don't love my kids or love spending time with them.  However, it means for our family that we get back on a real schedule.  Our kids thrive on a schedule.  We have tried this summer to keep it as real as we can.  We are all up by 6ish and head to curves by 7 at the latest.  Three days a week, I take the kids to Mills park to ride scooters right after Curves.  It helps get their energy out! 

I am proud of myself this summer.  Yes, I'm bragging on myself, patting myself on the back, and thanking myself for making it with 1 month left of summer.  You might think I'm self centered for that but so be it.  Being a RAD Mom is no easy feat.  I can't say that I've always had it together this summer.  Some nights when Luke gets home I end up in tears, yell, or simply don't want to talk to anyone.  Being a RAD parent means there is always a vie for control somewhere.  You ask the kids to get in the shower.  One might get in the shower, but you can bet assured that the other one will ask if they can wear these pj's, use this soap, or ask for something else, or simply wear no underwear at all! All in the time span of 1 minute.  It's every.single.time.  About EVERYTHING!  It can seriously wear a person down.  The sad thing is that they can turn it on and turn it off.  Sometimes I do feel crazy at the end of the day. 

Despite their circumstances, Robert and Asia have done great this summer.  We've had a chance to bond more, spend more time together, and simply try to strive for normal.  There's not a day that goes by that we haven't talked about adoption or them being in our family.  Some days, I simply just want to be normal.  I don't want to talk about their adoption or the issues surrounding it.  I just want to be a normal Mom eating at Burger King with her kids.  A normal Mom taking her kids to the pool- not discussing the reasons to trust me while teaching them to swim. Yes, that turned heads...from a lady wearing a turtleneck in the pool no less! 

In some ways, I realize I am a normal Mom.  I'm tired all the time, my house is less than what it used to be, and my meals aren't always Betty Crocker or Julia Child style anymore!  I love my kids and want the best for them.  I read everything I can on RAD and try any idea I can come up with to help the lying, stealing, and other issues we have.  It's hard.  It's really hard.  Would I do this again had I known how hard it would be?  Probably not, but it's what the Lord called us to do.  Until He calls me home it's what I'll try my best at!

For now, I'll look on the ever present bright side- SCHOOL STARTS IN 1 MONTH!!!!!!!  Bring on the school supplies, backpacks, and lunchboxes!!