Summer Break on Shine

Organizing your college student to come home for summer break

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By Nancy Meyer

Moving my daughter Marissa from Orange County, CA to Bloomington, IN was hard enough logistically her freshman year, but at that time she was living in the dorms and most of her things were fairly easy to transport back or donate. However, sophomore year she lived in an apartment with her girlfriends, with lots more space for clothing, furniture, and electronics. Now that we’re approaching summer, the logistics of moving out of her college house and into a sublet for summer school, back to the O.C. in July, and then to a completely different campus home in fall, is extremely difficult. It takes a lot of time, planning for storage, organizing of her possessions and ditching the clutter.

Mom of Tweens: Two summers in one

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"What day is it?" my 11-year-old asked me the other night. We'd just returned from a short trip to Boston, this after a brief vacation in Baltimore. Earlier this summer, we'd visited Philadelphia, the Jersey Shore and New York City. So it's no wonder my son has no...

Mom of Tweens: Sometimes it's okay to let your kid just chill out

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For one week, I couldn't find the middle. With one kid at baseball camp all day and the other pretty much playing Sim City much of the time, I had a lesson in extremes - and I'm not sure I liked either end. By the time Friday rolled around, I swore I'd never again lose that...

Mom of Tweens: Please Take My Children to Work Day

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"Why would I take your kids to work?" Oh, here we go. "Why shouldn't you watch my kids while I'm at work?" a mom recently asked. Clearly, she didn't get it. She didn't understand that "Please Take My Children to Work Day" is a tongue-in-cheek name for a...

(Almost) 100 Summer Activities to Keep Your Kids Busy & Active

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I both look forward to and somewhat dread the start of summer. While it's my favorite season of the year, and I'm excited to get more time with my children, I work at home. Summer break always puts a big dent in my productivity. Ultimately, it's a great "dent" to have, because...

Mom of Tweens: Please Don't Wave: Remembering the View from the Oncology Floor

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When I spotted the boat full of tourists, waving maniacally toward the hospital, I thought, Bozos . Granted, they probably had no idea they were extending their enthusiastic greetings in the direction of an oncology floor -- the one where I had spent much of last June and part of July. But as I...

Mom of Tweens: Sweet music to fill a home during summer break

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The boy in the back row clearly didn't want to be there. Although he and the rest of the children's choir at my niece's communion were singing about joy, this kid could barely even muster mild contentment. Standing against the back wall of the church, the unhappy 11-year-old looked more...