A Tribute to Mother's and our children: Hooray for Summer, or Not?

This time of year I always look forward to the end of the school year, when my children can have a break from their busy, regimented schedules, and I get a break from being the homework Nazi and taxi driver. We can all take some time to breath, enjoy unstructured time, relax — that is until the first echoes of “I’m bored” ring through my ears. This happens usually inside a week.

 

Unfortunately, even though the kids are off for summer break, my work doesn’t allow for a three-month summer break. And it’s amazing how far the echo of “I’m bored” rings through the airwaves. While I am working, even if I am there physically, I can’t always direct them toward un-boredom. In fact, the interruptions don’t bring out the best parenting techniques in me, and then the guilt ensues for not being able to meet their needs. I know, I need to work on that.

So, to avoid the inevitable, by Mothers Day, with any luck,  I have the summer schedule buttoned up. 

Our summer vacation takes up about a week, depending on how much time I can take off from WWISH. After we have that planned, I begin by asking them what their idea of summer fun looks like aside from our vacation. My kids (the two living at home, I have a son who flew the coop so to speak, he's a UW engineering student :-)) aren’t close in age: I have a teenager and a 10-year-old, and this presents very different ideas of summer fun. 

My 16-year-old says he wants a job this summer. As any parent knows, this is great news. But, as we also know, the job market isn’t looking so good these days, and even in good times you don’t wait until June to start looking for a summer job. So my role of suggestor takes over: “Have you decided what kind of job you want this summer?” “Would it be a good idea to get their contact info and let them know you are interested?” “Do you want help with a resume?” The result: a few shrugs and a nod once in a while, and he assures me he has it handled.

For my 10-year-old, summer fun is not something he thinks about — he just does. But 

this is not to say he won’t tell me what he won’t do. This is where my director role takes over: “You have a choice of three camps and a few other activities. Which ones would you prefer?” 

He has suggested to me that he would like no plans this summer, except, of course, our family vacation. But when it comes to camps, theater groups, sports clubs, etc., he has an aversion. So this is the tough parenting call.

 

We know we feel so much better when we know our kids are stimulated, learning and safe. And you know what? They do, too. Never have my kids come home after a day in group activities with kids their own age — participating, connecting and sometimes competing — and said, “I hated that! It was horrible.” Instead, they have occasionally cried because they were sad about the fact that they will miss their new friends.

 

So this summer will be the same. I will give him his options, and he will choose what best suits him. And then I have no doubt he will have another memorable childhood summer. 

And, of course, I will sleep much better at night.

*Photo’s are from last years summer fun on Lake Chelan.