Monday, April 5, 2010

Spring Break, Spring Broken

It's kind of blurry, all the images are running together now, but I believe my kids last went to school on March 26th, a Friday. Then there was a weekend during which I cooked and cooked and then cooked some more, a Monday during which I cooked even more and then set our table, and then there were two Passover Seders. I remember a lot of matzoh. That was a long time ago already - a week. Why are the kids still off from school?

Every school on the planet started back up today after Spring Break. Except mine. My kids are off till Wednesday because their Spring Break is geared towards something different than Spring and more indistinct than Easter: it's geared towards Passover, which apparently will never end. 

After our seders there was a three-day trip to Tucson, then another weekend. Now it's Monday again. They don't return to school till Wednesday, April 7th. That's like a different month than when this thing started.

We haven't eaten bread this entire time, we've been eating matza, which, in my opinion, takes a bit of doctoring up to taste good. We've also had a couple close calls, like where Daughter had some food, let's say a crouton, on its way to her mouth, then halfway in her mouth, and I said, "Stop! It's bread!" and she pulled it out at the last second. Also, we have a loose definition of what bread is. It has to look like bread to be bread. Let's put it this way: we eat tortillas.

Today my kids announced that instead of my idea for explaining why they were the only kids off from school today at the places we went - that they were 4th and 8th grade drop outs - they decided to say that I was homeschooling them. I looked at them and two thoughts flashed through my mind: gratitude for all the wonderful teachers they've had and how very lucky Husband and I have been, and horror at the thought of me homeschooling them. Because that would be just my style, to homeschool my kids and take them shopping all day for a lesson in, um, "economics."

Here's one thing I've learned because of this Spring Break that won't end: because of spending so much quality, unstructured time with Bar Mitzvahzilla in this strange loop of time we're calling Spring Break, a harbinger of the summer to come, I've decided that what we need in the summer is a lot LESS time together. He really needs to go to summer school and football camp. It turns out that what will make Bar Mitzvahzilla unhappy is what will make Mommy happy - me minus one lurking ominous bad-tempered teenager.

Just one more day left. And then Spring Break will be broken.

Did you ever give up a food only to find it in your mouth by accident? Is spending too much time around the kids solidifying your summer camp plans? How was your Spring Break?

30 comments:

  1. lol....do it once..tell someone you homeschool because I want a non homeschooler to experience that moment of zen we homeschoolers like to call defensive offensiveness...
    It goes something like..
    What are you dear, sweet children doing out today?
    You: 'We homeschool'
    Them: "Oh, I could never homeschool'
    or "What about socialization"
    Or. 'Is that legal?"
    Or. "Where do you get your curriculum....Bob's books for the Religiously intolerant?"
    Do it...just once...
    for me.
    lol.

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  2. Chris, I'm sure it must be crazy out there. I'm glad that my response is always positive! And I do believe that in a part-time-ish way I've given my kids a Jewish homeschool curriculum, beyond their day school - Judaism according to Linda, which has been (believe it or not) a great thing for their identity!

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  3. I think this was my first big parental epiphany, the moment I realized my daughter would do better to not be around me all the time. So, preschool! And Spring Break coupled with germs has kept her out most of March. (The whole family is glad she's back.) Hang in there till Wednesday. =>

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  4. Stacia, Whenever I run into the preschool teacher who had my son (at a different preschool) from the age of two through five I always thank her for raising my child better than I could myself. I wonder if she'd come live with me now and raise him as a teen?

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  5. I have to admit, I feel like I did not get enough of them. It was so busy , we had no time to just cuddle and relax. I dont do summer camps, not because of any other reason that I want to play too. We swim everyday and play tennis and go for hikes all over the city. I love it and cant wait for it. But, Linda, I do not have teenager yet. So ask me that question in 3 years, I might be whistling another tune.

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  6. I remember those summers and am glad my kids are older now:) I even hated snow days! I could soooo never have homeschooled my kids. Now if I can just get my teen to start applying for summer jobs!

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  7. Our spring break is in a couple weeks. I think any extra time would make me crazy!!

    I once ran across the room and grabbed the cup of iced tea some dear soul had given my child before he could drink it. After that I made sure my kids knew the look of iced tea so they didn't accidentally drink it.

    Also, we fast the 1st Sunday of every month. Often I forget and grab a drink of water or taste test while making the dinner that will break my fast. Hard to fast when you're a habitual food snitcher.

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  8. I guess I'm still suffering from empty nest syndrome because when my daughter announced that she would be traipsing off to the beach with a bunch of friends for college Spring Break, I thought, what? You would rather spend your vacay with them rather than me? Impossible!

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  9. We're in the throes of spring break this week! Luckily for us, the weather is gorgeous and I can throw them outside... er... I mean go outside and play with them.

    As for the food.... um.... well, when I used to go to weight watchers I would oftentimes awaken from a trance and find myself with Doritos and Reese's cups in my mouth... does that count?

    Lastly-WHERE did you find the cute little matzah clipart? That's adorable!

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  10. My daughter's spring break starts in a week and a half. We're going to visit my parents in Florida which will no doubt bring us closer together when they turn on us...
    Hang in there! And God yes, make those summer plans! Sanity is a beautiful thing...

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  11. As a stepmother to a sulky teenager, you have my utmost sympathy. Two more days/two more days/two more days...just keep on swimming, Linda!!

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  12. Love this! (And oh, can I understand.) My kid's on break, still. Back soon though. And the onslaught will start up again. And I've barely scratched the surface of everything I needed to get done.

    Why is that? Yeah, Spring Break. Broken. I love it.

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  13. I wish I was still on break...'cause three is better than 32!

    Here's to breaking the Break! What will you do to celebrate then returning to school?

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  14. Going breadless is brave. For me, it would equate with going chocolateless. Possible, I think, but nearly unthinkable. :)

    We survived Spring Break by the skin of our teeth. The whole 3 weeks of it.

    I whispered a prayer of gratitude Monday morning when I dropped 3 of my 4 kids off at school. I now understand why some parents prefer boarding school and someday, I may just become one of them. :)

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  15. Joely, camp also has its hassles! Lunch, field trips, special dress up days! There are so many things to think about just when we all want to kick back and not think!

    It may just be my son, but he does a lot better with structure. Without it, he kind of falls to pieces and stops doing anything at all. I think I decided on one month of "Mommy Camp" and one month of "Professional Camp!"

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  16. Waisting Time, My kids look at me each day like I'm their cruise director and it's up to me to keep them entertained. I'm actually supposed to be WRITING at the house!

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  17. Charlotte, I love that you can relate to my dietary stuff! Thank goodness (and Thank God!) We don't eat pork or shellfish either and you cannot imagine what we go through with that. Everything in the world is wrapped in bacon nowadays! At least this bread thing is just eight days!

    But in the world of kosher eating we learn that making choices like these makes us think beyond the food. We're actually thinking of God and our faith as we're making our food decisions, which is pretty cool.

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  18. Lisa, I can't believe Shana is going off on a College Spring Break adventure. Or, I guess I can. I did (Mazatlan, 1979). Doesn't she know that you've been waiting for her - impatiently - all year?

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  19. Jennifer, trust me, I can relate to the food trance, especially when Weight Watchers tries to convince me to eat "their" food instead. Next thing you know, empty wrapper from a gigantic Baby Ruth.

    And thanks for the comment on the Matzoh Man! I think I was googling Passover clip art or Matzoh clip art and he came up!

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  20. Oh my god, Maureen, I've got to hear more about your parents in Florida turning on your daughter and you when you go visit! That sounds hilarious! See what happens when you leave the Island?

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  21. TKW, the big victim went off to bed, blaming me for everything bad that ever happened to him but giving me no credit for anything good. Typical. But tomorrow's school!

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  22. BLW, I'm sure you can get your whole life completely organized by the time the teen returns (ha ha) only to see it destroyed piece by piece as he throws down his belongings and re-enters your house. :)

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  23. Maria, those numbers don't lie - 3 IS better than 32! Leave it to a teacher to get me to see the light!

    First day of freedom - Transition conference for son going into high school. Exercise. Lunch with best friend. Vacuum. Pick them up (already?) Tutoring. Sigh.

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  24. Terresa, THREE WEEKS of spring break? Well, I've obviously lost my right to complain! And another issue you raise - should I be looking up boarding school for my son's teenage years? :)

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  25. Ah. Spring Break. I would LOVE to have a Spring break. At my alma mater, and my husband's current home (half joking), there is no such thing as a Spring Break. Nope, it's all go go go until the end. Yuck.

    Still. Maybe that's a good thing??

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  26. Amber, Wow! Well, like you said, at least you get school done more quickly without the interuptions, but, no break? Our Jewish Day School either has to take a break during Passover or they have to Kosher the campus for the eight days, which is a very involved process!

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  27. This reminds me of my kids being little and as much as the weekend was a fun time, work was easier, and so I used to say TGIM... Thank God It's Monday.

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  28. Bruce, that's now my new mantra: Thank God it's Monday! I love that. Even though my old full-time job was hard, I remember sitting down at my desk and kind of relaxing because I was among adults for eight hours!

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  29. It is so great to read your words again. I missed you! I have three weeks of spring break. And we all feel rather broken here! Boy, thoughts of summer have been on my mind. Deep breath. Deep, deep breath. Glad to be back!

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  30. Terry, You were missed, both here and on your blog. Don't make me email you! I kept imagining you all depressed on this college tour!

    But here's the deal - 3 weeks of Spring Break? That's way longer than Passover. I guess I can stop complaining now!

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