Today We Beached

After weeks of hustle, bustle and timetables and deadlines, we found ourselves free to be lazy and carefree. And so, with bellies full of pancakes and bacon, today we beached! And it was a perfect three hours, complete with a money of a parking spot. The high winds made exciting waves on our usually tame Lake Michigan and the giant nine-foot waves from Saturday made huge, pond-sized puddles filled with clear, warm water all across the beach. We swam, snacked, and built sand castles. I read my Times with the rolling sound of waves behind me. I unclenched and let the warm sun on my back melt me. Tomorrow's Monday promises to be difficult, as so many Mondays are, but today, we beached!

My girl and me

Sandcastle king

Biggest puddle ever!

To the Working Parents

Today was a tough one. Sometimes balancing work and parenting can just tear you to pieces. There's never a good time for an injured or sick child, but there are definitely horrible times. Times where you have debates in your head that you never though you'd have. I know some will argue differently, but it's not always black and white on who comes first. So, today I delivered at work and ended the day where I wanted to be all along--with Lainey's head in my lap. And I just have to let go of how I got from Point A to Point B and accept that no one got my best today. Sometimes good enough has to be enough--even if it feels shitty. But, I'm thankful for supportive bosses. And for forgiving children. And for Friday. And for the wine Mark brought home.

So, tonight, here's to the working parents who...

• miss the big meeting to attend the choir program
• miss the big game to attend the important conference
• dose ibuprofen and hope daycare doesn't detect a fever until after the presentation
• force someone to cover, so they can care for a wheezy child
• debate with their partner of who has the more important work day
• cry in the bathroom because they screamed at their kids during the stress of running late
• laugh as they leave daycare, because their kid's tantrum is someone else's problem now
• love leading the project team more than coaching little league
• give up the promotion, so they can have more flexible hours
• volunteer for every evening or weekend child-related activity, because they feel guilty they aren't there at pick-up every day
• ignore deep sighs from co-workers, because they have to go pick-up their child
• turn away from the disappointed face, because they can't go on the field trip
• work to support their families
• work to fuel their souls

And to all the other dilemmas and tensions and missteps as you try to do what's best. To the wins and the losses. To the pride and the guilt and the gratification and the frustration. Whether you're drinking away a bad day or celebrating one of the goods--cheers!

CRAZY Days of Summer!

Evidently there is such a thing as “lazy days of summer,” but not at the Branderson household this year. We’re going full force with CRAZY days of summer. Weddings, birthday parties, BBQs, Sox game, 4^th of July celebrations, high school reunion, and Pitchfork Music Fest…we have been WORKING it! Add a kitchen renovation that is still underway and various weeknight commitments and this lady has had zero time or energy to do anything extra, let along blog. So, you get the montage, quick hits email to cover the major happenings over the past few weeks.

SOX GAME

Our awesome neighbors hooked us up to free tickets to a Sox game on July 2. We had great seats and the kids got to see a home run ball hit right to our section. They were on the jumbotron AND the TV broadcast. (I was off getting the Dippin’ Dots and missed the action. #momlife)  It was a pretty hot day, so we only made it about two hours into the game before calling it quits, but we still had a blast! Thanks to the Stantons for thinking of us and their generosity in sharing the tickets!

 

 

FOURTH OF JULY

We saw some pretty great fireworks in Park Ridge on Monday night and then took part in our neighborhood festivities on the 4^th. Lainey wasn’t sure she wanted to walk with the Wildwood group in the parade, because she wanted to “get all the candy” that would be thrown. But, she had a last-minute change of heart and ended up scoring a sweet ride with her friend Lucas. Adorable!

 

20-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL REUNION

I was not planning on heading to Ohio to take part in my 20-year high school reunion, but decided it would be a good chance to visit with my favorite ladies who still live in the heart of it all. It was a quick trip—in Saturday morning, out Sunday morning—but, I got some great one-on-one time with Meredith and Amanda. The reunion itself was fine, but I don’t think I need to go to another. As Mer said, “it was fun for about a hot minute.”

However, I have zero regrets, because I reunited with someone very dear to me that, for a plethora of reasons and a complicated story that is not mine to tell, I had not seen for almost nine years. The amazing thing about people that you share a certain bond with is that no matter the time or circumstance that separated you, you can fall right back in pace as if only days have passed. I’m looking forward to seeing her again when she comes to Chicago for the marathon in October.

 

PITCHFORK

A big thank you to Dad and Sharon for making the trip to Chicago to stay with the kids, so Mark and I could enjoy our annual Pitchfork Music Fest and a kid-free night downtown. The weather was perfect and the sound was great! We had to skip out on a leisurely brunch the next day to shuttle the kids to a birthday party, but we still got a quiet night’s sleep and late wake-up, so no complaints!

 

 

Things slow down a bit over the next few weekends, so I’m hoping to get back to posting regularly.