How Can You Tell When Your Kid Has Had Enough Summer Vacation?

Actual conversation in the Laughter House this afternoon...

sweet little man but no words!

"James, time to get ready for Karate.  Please go change in."  (this is our shorthand for getting ready. 'Changing in' is to get ready and 'Changing out' is to take the uniform off.)

sweet young man, words
and attitude of a typical teen

"Mom, I thought Dad wasn't going to make it." (Dad just called telling us he was stuck in traffic.)

"Well James, there are other drivers in the house."

"Oh great, the undrivable mom, (my van is in the shop) and the always irritated with me sister."

"Yup, you do have choices."

My mantra today that will keep me from losing my mind, "I wanted him to be able to talk, I wanted him to be able to talk, I wanted him to be able to talk!"

Boy do I love this kid!!! Especially right now that he is in karate class!!!

Something to Bond Over..... Thankfully

He certainly knocked that one out
of the park!!
(this picture is old but super cute!)

There certainly are challenges when there is a wide age gap between children.  There certainly are benefits, such as having another set of hands to help with whatever chore is daunting at the moment. Our kids, not by design but by destiny, are seven years apart.  James was the best "doll" we ever got our daughter, and she adored him. Over the years, the kids have been close and had basic sibling difficulties like all kids in a family.  
Our daughter is back for five weeks before she moves back to college for summer classes, her own apartment, and the fall quarter. James has had some trepidation about having her return and eventually leave again.  This usually looks and sounds harsh towards the person he is going to miss horribly when they are no longer in his environment.  I have seen it happen time and time again and although it is tough for the person it is directed at, I know that all behavior is communication.  My goal for him is that he will be able to find a way that doesn't alienate the person leaving so they are excited about going away.   
This wonderful exchange happened yesterday between them and it made me smile.  James went through a long period where he was obsessed with everything Mario. Yesterday, he made his sister smile when he let her into his world for a while.  "Princess Peach deserves better! She shouldn't be a damsel in distress all the time!  I mean, what's special about Mario? Peach has magic!"  Our daughter was so impressed with her brother, the budding feminist!!