Summer vacation started this week for both my girls. Every year before my munchkins come home, I envision us holding hands, going to the park, doing cutesie, simple crafts and having loads of picnics. This year was no exception.
It has been 4 hours since my third grader-- um--fourth grader?-- came home from school. I was armed with a picnic basket packed a la Eve. The car keys were not far as I anticipated saying, "Hi, Morgan. Welcome home from school. Hop in the car-- we're going to the zoo."
Which is exactly what I did.
It was a test run. I wanted to dip my toes in the edge of summer vacation and see how much my children will call my name. Or how well they will play with each other. Or how many snacks they would ask for in a half hour period. For the record, they only said "Mom" one hundred and thirty seven times at the zoo this morning. Which made me breathe deeply knowing that summer was going to be a cinch. *ha*
Truthfully, I somewhat fear summer vacation. For 9 months my offsprings' schedules have been filled with a veritable army of teachers who come to the classroom equipped with techniques and curriculums (curricula?) and scheduled activities. It is unfortunate for my munchkins that I am not naturally an organized person. Anything "organized" inside my brain is put there on purpose by watching other parents. If you're one of my organized friends, please know that I am totally mooching off of your ideas. Idea robbery. You've been warned.
So on the first day home for summer vacation, they look at me with big blue eyes and say, "What now, Mom?"
I have a few crafts. And movies. And a few adventures planned.
If the weather is nice this weekend, I hope to take my children camping. For those of you who know my dis-inclination towards this event, rest assured that I am referring to backyard camping, where the toilet is only 15 yards away and not covered with mosquitoes. Also, when I say "I" will take them camping, I am referring to my husband. I will be in bed, resting well. This is only fair that he take them camping because I have the immense pleasure of giving them "the talk" one day.
He takes them camping.
I tell them how babies are made.
We're both happy.
Also, I have finally succumbed to the notion that I might be living in Chicagoland all my life. And since my children were born here, I might want to teach them a few things about Navy Pier and Chicago Jazz and maybe the mafia. Some day trips to the city are planned.
Eve is at a brilliant age for exerting energy. We plan on running her like a Kentucky Derby race horse: full throttle. Think canoeing, biking and swimming.
Most of the activities I have planned for them are immensely simple or cheap. The reason for this stems back to the summer of 2008. I spent $75 on a Ralph's World concert (for kids) and another $12 for beer for Dan. I was pregnant and hot, but I enjoyed it. Halfway through the concert both my companions were begging me to take them home. The next day I took Morgan to the park (for free) and she said it was the best day of her life. I have never forgotten that moment.
Most kids want to go to Disney World.
My muffins will be happy finding worms in the garden.
I do have some sanity strategies for my summer:
There will be a mandatory quiet time every blessed day.
And there will be chores as well.
Overall, I plan on keeping their little buns so busy that by the time school starts up, they'll be begging me to let them go. And when that day comes, I'll wipe the tears from my eyes, tell them to have a nice day at school and take a 4 hour nap.
Summer? Bring it.
