Summertime Sanity
Friday, May 21, 2010
Friday’s Confession …
It’s the last day of school and I’m feeling conflicted. On one hand my kids are going to be home for 10 weeks (*insert feelings of maternal joy and loving smiles here*); and on the other hand my kids are going to be home for 10 weeks (*insert feelings of maternal panic and freaking out here*).
While I’m truly looking forward to a fun-filled summer of swimming, tennis, sleepovers and family bonding dare I say I will miss my school day me time? Not that I was really using it for me – no bon bons here, mostly work and household stuff – but still it was time I knew I could attempt to accomplish the fifty-million tasks on my To-Do list.
But, with that said, I am ready. Sort of. I’ve got Summer-Bridge workbooks, reading plans and incentives, a few weeks of camp lined up and calls in to all the grandparents for a little family relief. Oh, and a case of wine. I'm just sayin'.
How about you? What are your summer plans and how do you stay sane when school is out? Summertime mamas want to know …
Winks & Smiles,
11 comments:
I love the summer soooo much. I guess it's because I'm a teacher and by May, I'm desperate for a break. IN the summer my kids and I have a strict schedule (sort of). We get up, eat breakfast, then I ring the school bell! (yes, I have an actual bell that I ring). My kids know that the ringing of the bell means it's time for "Grant Academy". We sit at the dinning room table and have real school. I have dry erase boards and everything. They get instructed on every subject throughout the week. they even have silent reading time. Grant Academy lasts for 2-3 hours, then it's party time! The kids go outside and ride their bikes, play on the swings, soccer, badmiton, whatever they want to do while I sit on my lawn chair and watch them. By this time its 12 noon and HOT! So we go inside for lunch then take a nap. Yes, I make them take a nap every single day. Their nap lasts until Oprah comes on. They get up and play for a while , have dinner, play the Wii, then it's bed time.
Sometimes we'll meet daddy for lunch, or go on a field trip. But that doesn't happen regularly because it's so expensive. We need to schedule a play date for the kids! Good luck with your summer planning.
I'm struggling with something productive yet fun to do with my kiddos. My parents watch my children before and after school and of course anytime the oldest is out of school (unless I'm off work too). It's a blessing to be able to have them in an enviornment that I know is safe and cost effective a.k.a. FREE! BUT I don't want my oldest to just sit around and play the wii all day and watch t.v. with his great grandmother.
I was thinking of making up little packets that he can take with him. That would consume about 3 to 4 hours. I can spend my lunch break with them (most days) and the other 3 to 4 hours can be "free" time.
It's hard to find something for them to do that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Plus I feel limited because I work full time.
Any and all advice/suggestions are appreciated!
I'm so jealous of kids, and teachers during Summer! We should all have 3 months of R&R, but alas, our years just blend into one. :( I'm sure you'll think of fun things to do and a way to still work in your "me" time.
Homeschooling my kids...it is always "summer" here. We school year round taking 2 weeks of here and there when we go places. This helps us always keep with the routine. It works for us...definitely not for everyone.
I do always giggle when I read or hear about the summer hoorays and sighs though...can relate on some level..as I feel it quite often!
Enjoy them(this is what I always remind myself) they are little...at this age...only once.
xoxo
Honestly, I don't have a clue what I'm going to do with my kids for all those weeks! It was easier when they were younger and I had "Camp Mommy" and everyday we did something fun and different, but now it's not so easy and especially for the teen, who I don't want on the laptop or DS or iPhone all day, but he's too old for the playground or Camp Mommy. So far I have 1 week of camp lined up and that's the week after school lets out. After that it's NOTHING until August 24th when they go back.
But even with that panic about what to do do, I am so sick of school right now...lunches and carpool and all the school emails, homework and crap that I am so ready!
I have always ensured that during this time of the year that all of our activities are scheduled. Part of scheduling is ensuring that my "me time" is schedule so that I got it. It helped me to keep my sanity and a be a better person when having family time.
I have been a SAHM for three years now and I think this is the year that I FINALLY have it figured out! I have trips planned, things are already scheduled and I am looking forward to a smooth ride this summer. Well I hope so anyway lol. I agree with Dana, I will HAVE to get "MY" time so that EVERYONE is happy lol.
I break out in hives a week before school gets out. It's not the "me" time I will miss. Since I have a preschooler & a toddler still wrecking shop on the home front all day, I don't have much of that. It's the bickering-tattling-I'm-bored-and-it's-too-hot-to-play-outside time that I'm dreading. When my oldest is out of school and the preschooler is home all day the arguing goes up along with the complaining, while my sanity goes WAY down. The only thing that saves me is that we live on a lake so when the crazy gets outta hand I just go throw 'em in for a swim. We still have 3 weeks. I'll have to check back with you for inspiration!
OH my ... you get out early ... Kat got out last monday and the boys get out one week from Wed.
i've got nothing planned and I'm definitely stressing about it! Can i send my kids to you? ;)
I'm stressing about this at our house too! My daughters are 12 and 14 and I'm hoping to come up with some plans to keep them from vegging in front of the TV!
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