1st day of something

So today was the first day of school and the first day where I am totally able to relax.

You see this has probably been one of the worst summers EVER (according to my children).

I wasn't able to take them to the beach.

I wasn't able to sign them up for zoo, museum, girl scout, boy scout, whatever else kind of camps there are this year.

I wasn't able to take them to the pool, without major work.

I wasn't able to accept my friend's offers for help.

I wasn't able to let said friends take my children to Hawaiian Falls.

I wasn't able to get out of bed for a month.

Why?

Because I decided that the pain that was in my foot needed to be repaired. I knew going in that I would be 2 weeks down and another 2 weeks recovering.

I ALMOST signed the kids up for some camps but didn't do it last minute. I guess my body knew somehow I would fail it.

Less than a week after my surgery, I gave myself a sponge bath and got dressed. I was determined to go see my 6th grader's award program. What I didn't expect was to black out at the front door and fall down.

Achilles tendons don't like to be fallen on after they have been repaired.

So to make this long story some what short, I had another surgery for a 2nd set of anchors in my tendon.

My routine this summer was having one of my children come into my room and very sweetly ask if I needed anything. They would refill my water and add a crystal light to it. They would bring me breakfast, lunch and snacks. Throughout the day they would check on me. At night it was G checking on me. They would ask me to come to dinner at the table but with a quick glance of my face they eventually just brought it to me.

When I was feeling better to leave my cave, I would have a helper bringing me the wheelchair.

A little while later the kids would beg me to go to the pool. When I finally relented D pushed my wheelchair all the way.

This summer, my children grew up and today I sent them for their first day of school.

My house is quiet as I sit here alone typing this.

The only noise is coming from my dog who sounds like a pig from angry birds when I disturb him.

How did I get to this point in my life? My children are 12, 10, 10, 10 and 7 and this summer they turned the tables on me by helping me out.

I hope one day they will realize that even though I wasn't able to take them to various activities I enjoyed and relished their company.

I have never wanted to accept help but this summer my children gave it to me.