Biking

I bought myself a bike. A cruiser with a granny seat and wide handle bars. I love it! I kind of feel like the witch in the Wizard of Oz when I am riding around town on it, though. Little Lou learned how to ride a two wheeler this Spring and it is so much fun to go for family bike rides and not have to yell over the noise of training wheels. This morning I had a couple of hours to myself and decided to go for a long ride alone. Jared left for Arizona this morning and will be gone for eight days, so I thought I would take advantage of a little alone time since it will be awhile before I get some again. The weather was perfect, a little overcast and cool, but not cold. I love the feel of the breeze and the smell of Spring. I love being able to ride without worrying who is on the wrong side of the road and who is too far ahead or too far behind. It was very rejuvinating. I went about four miles and I was tired! But, something about bike rides, or walks, by myself makes me ponder my life and the choices I have made, or have yet to make, and it's almost like meditating for me. The physical movement makes my brain more active and I always start to contemplate the direction of my life. Sometimes it is very therapeutic- sometimes depressing! Today was therapeutic. I needed a good think. I spent a few minutes on pinterst while I was waiting for Little Lou to be picked up and it really depressed me. I read some blogs about moms that do everything and looked at their fun summer plans for their kids and felt like the worst mom ever because I am dreading summer and trying to keep my kids entertained. I even e-mailed T's teacher and asked about summer school options! I didn't make fancy teacher thank you gifts and I don't have lists of activities for my kids to choose from each day all summer. I didn't create end of school baskets for each one of them to celebrate their accomplishments this school year. I didn't do their hair before they went to school today, or check if their clothes matched, and I didn't make them their own year books to take on the last day of school for all of their friends to sign. I didn't even make breakfast this morning- I left them to face the sugar and preservative breakfast served at school, and I got them there late. So in this frame of mind, I went for a bike ride. I know what you're thinking- I should spent less time on pinterest and bike riding and more time doing all those things I didn't do. I have decided that less time on pinterest might be good for my mental health. But while cruising around the neighborhood admiring all the beautiful flowers and breathing all that fresh air, I decided that I am ok. My mom read me a quote the other day that talked about doing the important things and I have thought about it a lot since then. What are the important things? Am I doing them? Maybe less time worrying about how organized my summer is and how cute my teacher thank you gifts are is in order. The important thing is that my kids teachers know how much I appreciate them and all that they have done for my kids this year- not how original and crafty my presentation is. And maybe instead of worrying about how to entertain my kids this summer I should focus on all the ways I am going to enjoy my kids this summer. Relax and let the breeze blow through my hair a little more often. Make sure that my kids know how much I love them and love being with them. That's definately one of the more important things. And while I'm cruising around town on my granny bike with my kids this summer I can concentrate on exuding Glinda the Good vibes instead of wicked witch vibes!