Sun's out, school's out... embrace it

As summer break inches closer, I find myself stressing over the packed summer months ahead. During the school year, I am thankful for the teachers to whom I entrust my child for hours on end, the coaches who make sports and practice an effective break and the early bedtimes that give this mom some peace and relaxation at the end of a long day. 
That all ends the last day of school. My children can see the light at the end of the school-year tunnel barreling towards us at breakneck speed. 
Don’t get me wrong, I love my children and cherish the time I get to spend with them, but as a full-time working mother, who is for the time doing it alone, this time with my children — while great — will bring loads of stress. 
I am fortunate enough to have a job that allows me to run my children from activity to activity all day, every day throughout the summer, although I must admit that sometimes I wish it was someone else’s turn. 
From swim practice at seven in the morning to summer school, from summer recreation activities to the park, this mom is constantly on the go. All this is on top of the normal everyday workload. 
As I brace for the coming months of little sleep, darker circles under my eyes, sunburns and, let’s face it, loads of messes, I must remind myself to cherish these times. I must enjoy the little things, take my shoes off and walk in the mud, slide down that slide, jump in the water feet first and run with the little humans I am lucky enough to have created. 
So, to those of you who live close enough to me to hear me yell at my children, I apologize. To those of you that I will encounter on the streets, I apologize now for my rushed conversation. To those of you who will face me during the most hectic moments, I apologize for the tears and the mess. 
But I will not be sorry or apologize for the fun I am going to have with my children, the memories we are going to make and the messes we are going to create. Throughout this hectic life, we must take time to enjoy the little things, and there is nothing more enjoyable than embracing youth and having fun. So kick off your shoes, moms. Put on your sunscreen and get outdoors. 
Let’s make this summer one we will never forget, for our children and for our sanity.