It's Spring break already! Sigh!

The kids are on the verge of  their Spring break and here I am a bit vary about it . Probably very mean of me to be so ! Wonder if this was exactly  the way my folks felt, whenever we kid's vacations came around - this feeling of  slight fear, about how they were going to make it through, with all that accompanying  ruckus . I am vary ,as I am well aware of the various showdowns we are sure we ( my kids and I) would have during this break . School,definitely, I ought to admit , is a reprieve for parents.

Matter of fact , we did have one of our famous showdowns yesterday , my  tween son and myself that is, like we always do, for such common- place things like , taking out the trash .

I try to remind him on such occasions, of the various chores that  kids of his age and younger , usually do around the house.  I am vividly reminded of a much smaller boy , one of six or seven years of age, begging me to let him wash the dishes for me some years back . I did say to him "maybe not" then , as he was too small I thought , for that particular job and at the same time did express my wish he would be so generous  with his offer of help later ,once he got older . And now, you see, it is that same earnest kid of yore that I have these mighty arguments with for nothing .

The reasons he quoted for not being in a mind to take the trash out yesterday being , he had already done one job, that being , nothing other than taking some home-made snack to my neighbor, that too in the same building ! He just couldn't do it  he said, as he was too tired from too much "work" as he put it . The "work" in question, having been at his day at school , having to work hard there, and now look, he says, here you (being me)  giving me no peace of mind. This return from school had been an hour back he forgets, and above all that day's work, you (That's me)  force me  to take a few paces to the dumpster?!

I had a good mind then to walk him through my memories, of  the numerous days of having had to do all that  loads of home-work assigned us in our younger days , added to any work we had to do at home whenever we were there, and of how we were expected to help around the house, any and all work as a matter of fact. Only, I stopped myself , as I was reminded of how we have tried from time to time to relate those days of toil and hard work of ours, in the hopes that our growing up tween and his little sister would get a teeny weeny more responsible, but how it always, somehow never registers in their minds . I try to pacify my partner's worries about the kids' lack of appreciation of the freedom and choices they have, the better chances and better comforts and his constant worry of why they just are unable to afford  some degree or a modicum of respect  to life in general , by telling him , maybe, we should give them more time, let them know repeatedly, remind them periodically, and they would eventually understand. My high hopes! My elder one usually shows signs of comprehension during these lectures, but only fleetingly, and again I see my tween reverting to his usual ways, which of course makes his dad see RED.

At the same time , kids ought to  be allowed to be kids I know , and that they will one day, maybe look back like the grown-ups before them, who have done so throughout the ages, with nostalgia at the wild ways they were allowed to be in their own homes. The total freedom they had there, to be themselves, as that's the essence of childhood and everyone should be allowed to savor it at everyone's own sweet pace I guess.... The only downside here being I am on the other side now...So be it , I tell myself ........Now it's their turn to have fun , and am sure ready for their break... so bring it on I say  ....