We're entering the last month of summer, and I cannot believe it. Not even a little bit. Usually, by this point, I'm crying uncle, and counting the days until school is back in session. This year, I find myself wishing each day had about 12 extra hours (and that I had the stamina to get through it.)

The kids have been really great, for the most part. Having a mom that works full-time, from home, with no day-to-day assistance with childcare is a big fake out. I'm here, but I'm not present. I fly through the house at regular intervals and make sure they are eating, and that they are not playing tackle football in the living room, but I'm often on conference calls or otherwise engaged with my co-workers, and cannot stop to give them the attention they crave.

I've found, though, that taking even 15 minutes to really focus and engage with each kid, a few times during my work hours, that they can hang in there until I can take an extended break. Everyday, for the most part, I have been packing the kids up and taking them to the pool or to the park for at least an hour - sometimes two or three, if I can swing it.

This means that we're often at the pool until they are starving for dinner, and then I come home, feed them something filling and they drop like logs. I'm in favor!

There's a mom in my neighborhood who brings her kid to the pool almost everyday, and she sits in the shade and works on her computer. I *could* be that mom, but when push comes to shove, I need the playtime too. So I've been slipping on my bathing suit and plunging in with the kids, salon hair-color and chubby thighs be damned.

Yesterday, I managed to wear my 6 and 8-year olds out sufficiently that they fell asleep on the couch before I could get dinner down their gullets, and they weren't able to be roused. I spent the evening hanging out with my 10-year-old, and went to bed pleasantly early.

I'm still struggling to stay on top of so many things - as most of us are. But this summer, I feel like I've managed to still have some quality time with my kids - and even better - I think they feel that way too.