Spring in Ohio behaved remarkably like winter in Ohio through most of April. I was not a fan. But dropping the temperature every-other-day or sending cold fall-like rain (thereby really messing with Jonah’s “I get to play outside/it’s too cold to play outside” emotions) weren’t the only tricks Mother Nature had up her sleeve. By delaying the seasons, she tricked me into thinking time had also been delayed.
But the calendar marched on while my brain stayed back in March.
Therefore I now find myself with 80-degree temperatures and in a BLIND PANIC because SCHOOL IS ALMOST OVER and I’m completely unprepared.
I’m the mom who likes it better when her kids are in school. Judge me all you want. This is how I’m wired. I handle the pressures of life better when there is only one kid in my face from 7:30-3:30 on the weekdays. But the party is almost over! Sophie has only 7 school days left and Joshua has 11. (Why do kindergartners get out a week early? RIP OFF!) School ends May 31st – not even in June! And the last week is the week of Memorial Day and Joshua will only go 4 days that week. RIP OFF again!
Here I am, not ready for summer. Although I have had the whole school year to prepare. I don’t know what pool we’re joining, have planned zero activities, don’t have a schedule set up (I’ve got to get Joshua and Sophie on some sort of a schedule because too much free time = bickering with those two, or asking for food ALL DAY LONG.)
And I am afraid of the jelly-filled mess that my brain becomes when there are three kiddos under my feet all day. I haven’t worked from home through a summer yet, so there’s getting my job done to consider as well.
EEPERS!
Hold me, people. Summer’s coming, ready or not!
What are you doing to keep your school-agers busy this summer? I need some ideas so that we can all enjoy each other! (Don’t say “day camp”. I can’t afford it!)
I’m am also a mom that likes it better when her kids are in school! So, no judgement here!! I have 5, 4 are in school and one at home. I was just telling my husband that I HAVE TO get a schedule together to survive summer break. I say it every year, but I truly think it would ease so many stresses. I want them to have fun and freedom, but not let it be a free-for-all!
And “day camp” isn’t an option for us either! Wow, would we be broke!
VBS hopping. Free, plus it’s Jesus-y!
Kidsbowlfree.com. Sign up for free kids’ bowling all summer long at a huge number of places nationwide. 2 free games per day, every day! (Buy bowling shoes online if you plan to go frequently…shoe rental is not included).
A camp that happens during the daytime (sorry!). Two of them for a week’s time each – saved up for a while for each. Otherwise, it’s pool, bike riding to the movies, going downtown, and a couple of short vacations thrown in. It’s my vacation from school, too – so I’m totally milking it. I’m sure there will be a ton of video games and computers in there – enough for me to be able to do the dishes but also enough for me to feel guilty about it!
^^@Laurel – BOWLING! Perfect! Adding that to the list. Oh! And science experiments with household stuff. We do that all year but will probably do more this summer.
My only advise is set a simple repeatable daily pattern of normal daily activities and include and hour or more of mommy alone time! Maybe even set weekly patterns like–Monday is park day; Tuesday is grocery day; weds is library day; etc. put them on a visible calendar and don’t let them nag you to change it! Also bribery could be In Order—last year we created our own reading program and I bribed the kids to follow it….the more you read the more $ you get to spend at target at the end of the summer 🙂 thus we had built in reading time almost every day!
That’s all I have….boundaries! Your kids are great but tke care of your energy level and tolerance level too 🙂 you are allowed!
Free movies at The Greene! I think they are on Wednesday mornings. We like to go to the parks with splash pads. Go for a hike then play at the park.
We need ideas too. My 4 year old loves school and likes to be busy. So needless to say, I gotta come up with daily activities.