Repeat

          Well it's that time of year again, the day the teachers thumb their noses at all the parents, the day all the bus drivers stand behind your child and give them a gentle yet forceful shove off the bus. All you parents know this dreadful day, "The First Day of Summer Vacation". This is the day I have to retrain myself after 9 & 1/2 glorious months of "mom time". I must now share my days with not only the dogs but 7 kids constantly bickering and fighting over absolutely nothing of any importance. For the next 83 days I must get up when I want to lounge, smile when I want to frown, laugh when I want to cry and stay home when I want to go. My kitchen turns from the heart of the home to a restaurant with endless dirty dishes and constant hunger pangs. My grocery bill escalates from 400 to 600 dollars a week and whiny kids complaining there is nothing to eat. The non-stop slamming of the doors and the trail of wet feet running in from the pool to use the bathroom. All the, "Why do I have to shower I was in the pool all day", arguments.  The "I'm bored there's nothing to do", syndrome and the, "He's looking at me", whine. Yes I knew it was coming and thought I had prepared myself for yet another summer, but alas I have not. So I will say my prayer right here and now:
    Dear Lord,

            Please give me the strength to make it through yet another hot and blistering summer with my beautiful children. Please Lord give me the patience of a saint, the wit of a comedian and the abilities of a referee to enable us to enjoy each other company for 83 long days of constant companionship. Please help my children to understand the joys of cleaning and the art of no back talk. And Lord thank-you for the whining and fighting and door slamming and the wet floors and all the hugs and kisses and I love you mom that I will get all 83 days of summer.   Amen