Parenting

From the Community…

• 
  Posted by Charlene Prince Birkeland, Shine staff Sun Jun 15, 2008 9:14pm PDT

  Summer camp starts Monday. My labyrinth-drawing moments are coming to a close. I'm with you -- summer has definitely taken on a new meaning now that the kids are of school age. I starting mapping out camp plans in December.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Amy F Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:40am PDT

  I am with you! my kids spend 1/2 of the summer at their dad's this year a whole month at once (it's usually split up into 2 weeks at a time)yet still I am faced with what to do with them for the rest of the summer (6 weeks)! Being that my kids are 8 3/4(as she tells me) and 14 and WAY TOO OLD FOR DAYCARE CENTERS!! I find it difficult to find stuff for them to do. Luckily I only work 24 hours a week so most days I can leave them in bed and get home before or shortly after they get up. But I remember as a kids my mom sending me to day camp and recreation department programs for the entire day. Looking at the programs offered today, I honestly can't afford it! Just for my little girl: cheerleading camp...$75.00 for 3 days 9 am-1pm with her bringing her OWN lunch! I realize that breaks down to 6.25/hour but come on! my mom says she spent about $30/week (25 years ago)but even still... if I enroll just my youngest in some sort of activity for each day this is what I am looking at:

  1. Starting my work day an hour later

  2. $75.00 for three HALF days per activity (not including food) enough activities for a WHOLE day ($300 per week)

  3. OR enroll her in the christian summer program Which is about $1000 for the summer

  Either way I am in a hard place. Honestly, I also HATE summer vacation. As a parent, I believe summer vacation for children/students under say 13 years old should be limited to say a month.... Year round school suits me even if they had shorter days in the summer or something.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by usproud Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:35am PDT

  I have three kids at home: 10 year old son, 6 year old daughter and 16 month old baby girl. I understand the whole what to do the whole summer bit but I have to say that I'm not one for shorter summers. How would you have liked to gone to school year round with really short summers? Kids need the break! I know it's not easy on us but it's not supposed to be now, is it? Come on now all you wimpy mommas, don't wish that on your kids if you coudln't handle it yourselves when you were kids! Enjoy the time with your kids now b/c when you're old and sitting around wishing for your kids to call or come around, remember these days! As they say, "be nice to your kids b/c they may be picking out the nursing home you'll end up in!"

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by HotCrossBuns Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:39pm PDT

  I've decided my kids are going to Spa-camp this summer, and i'm their couselor. They'll know how to give a fabulous pedicure if I have to die trying!!!

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by mindymouse11 Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:12pm PDT

  I cant wait for April, Baseball starts and we play until the end of June. The more we do the less they are bored. nd I am Happy to sit and watch a good ball Game. My children are 15 and 11. And I do Landscaping. They are trusted to be at home, while i work. I have wonderful children.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by DMLady Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:23pm PDT

  what happened to just letting kids enjoy their summer - sleeping in, watching tv, going out to play with their friends? why do parents feel that they have to shove their kids into as many activities as possible just to keep them out of the house? let them enjoy the "lazy days of summer". let them be young. my sister has pushed my niece into so many activities (and spending so much money to boot) that my niece is exhausted by the end of the week. parents keep saying how they always need their kids out of the house and out of their hair...and yet how quickly the song and dance changes when the kids to get out of the house - for good.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Jazzlvr Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:37pm PDT

  I LOVE Summers with my children! I have two boys aged 9 and 2. I love planning activities, swimming in our pool and all the fun things that we can't do during the school year!

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by none Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:19pm PDT

  I for one have no point of reference as I have been a stay at home mom since I graduated high school and began college at 18. I have since become a homeschool mom, working part time evenings around my husband's work schedule, who is a teacher, I am a tutor. So for us the summer is wonderful, we sleep in, do some inexpensive/free activities with the kids and just enjoy the lack of schedule and structure. I say life is short and childhood is fleeting so revel in it, relish it, and don't rush it because once its gone it won't be back.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Charlene Prince Birkeland, Shine staff Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:55pm PDT

  DMLady -- I don't think anyone would argue against lazy days of summer. I'm all for it and I think that author of this post would be too. But there's one point that many of these comments are overlooking -- she's a working mom. And when you are a working parent, the juggling of life come summer time becomes even more crazy.

  I'm guessing most working parents would adore a lazy summer to chill with their kids and plan their days on a whim. We all want to enjoy our kids as much as possible. But with working parents, it's not as easy as it sounds over summer break and I think that's something to take into account when reading this post.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by justme2 Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:06pm PDT

  I wish it were just "that easy" to let my children "enjoy their summer" with allowing them to "sleep in and spend the day playing with their friends", but wait, I am a single Mother of two daughters ages almost 13 and 8 1/2. I have to work all day to pay the bills, I work Monday through Friday and because state law says that the children cannot be left alone until they are 13 that means finding a day camp that they can both go to that I can afford. I am all for year round school. When I was a child my Father was stationed in England and we went full year there, 6 weeks on 3 weeks off, it worked out great for everyone envolved. The first few weeks of school are always spent reviewing what the students forgot over the summer are they not? With year round you eliminate that. Also its easier to offset the cost of childcare at 3 week incraments as opposed to 3 months.

  Report Abuse