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May 27, 2009
All during the school year, I’m running frantically from school to school, grabbing soccer bags and karate bags, bringing forgotten lunches and riding the kids to learn those multiplication tables and parse that sentence and don’t forget to carry the six on that long division problem. I survive on very little sleep during the school year, up far too late to get everything done before my alarm screams at me to GET UP and start all over again.
It’s a never ending cycle that wears everyone out and one that every mother in America knows far too well. We beg and plead for the school year just to be over already so we can get on with the fun of the summer. And then the summer starts and we all BEG for school to start.
We’re crazy, aren’t we? Because in the summer, the kids are all home, all the time, and the burden of the entertainment falls directly into our laps. I don’t know about your kids, but mine seem to be COMPLETELY unable to amuse and entertain themselves, and when asked to do so, they default into a fighting, screaming mode that requires my help at detangling. The days seem to last forever, especially if we have the pleasure of an overly wet summer as we did last year. We did an awful lot of “let’s clean out the closets!” “let’s organize the cabinets!” and my perennial favorite, “Let’s clean out the GARAGE!”. Because, truly, nothing says the entire family is spending the summer together like cleaning and organizing.
So instead of spending our summer cleaning, I plan to spend the summer PLAYING. Enjoying my kids, remembering those grand thoughts I had about having a family when I was young and single, and simply doing the things that they like to do. Rather than running like looney birds, as we do all school year, I plan to just hang out with them and enjoy them. And, hey, if that doesn’t work - I can fight just as hard as they can. I’m pretty good at the name calling and insults.
Need something to do with your kids this summer? Leave a comment here with your favorite summer time activity and you’ll be entered into a random drawing for a copy of either Goosebumps for Wii or Nintendo Ds - a game that you can play with your kids all summer, even if it’s too hot or rainy outside. You’ll have NO excuse not to spend time together and recover from all of the school year insanity.
We have a wii and are always looking for games we can play together!
Comment by girlsmama — May 28, 2009 @ 7:10 pm
My kids love love love to chase fireflies. I love to watch them, and listen to them yell when one lands on them. lol
Comment by Michele D — May 28, 2009 @ 7:29 pm
We really just like swimming, biking, hunting bargains (and I mean bargains!) at yard sales - hanging out. I am always thrilled to be free of school meetings - parent get-togethers (forced) - all that jazz…
Thank you! 
Comment by elizabethk — May 29, 2009 @ 4:56 am
My favorite thing to do in summer is go to a pool and stay in it all afternoon. It’s just too darn hot in Tennessee to do anything else!!!
Comment by Kay Ruleman — May 29, 2009 @ 9:04 am
My favorite activity with my kids — and usually the dozen or so extra neighborhood kids that end up at my house, is catching lightning bugs at dusk, using jars from the recycling bin. We spend the afternoon washing them, punching air holes, then decorating them with stickers, “jewels” or even paint (whatever we have on hand). Then, after dinner, they fill them with grass and sticks to make a habitat, and they’re off. Usually the adults hang out with margaritas around the firepit, and the kids have a blast. We end with marshmallows and smores, and everything gets release back into the “wild” — including the recycling! Great fun for everyone!
Comment by Beth — May 29, 2009 @ 12:48 pm
Right now, it is stomping in the puddles after the rain. Of course, my oldest isn’t yet three, so….
Comment by Kimberly — May 29, 2009 @ 5:34 pm
Water activities: “Painting” with water (toddlers), Water Table with containers, etc. This year, we’re in the market for a slingshot that launches water balloons.
Comment by Susan — May 29, 2009 @ 6:44 pm
I look forward to having the time to spend with my kids, without strict schedules and homework. We enjoy visiting parks, and hiking and going to the beach or bay and finding shells and sharks teeth. Riding bikes after dinner, blowing bubbles in the backyard, walking to the stream to look for minnows and frogs, cookouts and campfires, and camping in the woods. I can’t wait for their school year to end!
Comment by Colleen — May 29, 2009 @ 7:57 pm
Hi! My favorite activity is taking the kids to the “outside mall” where they play in the fountains. We also double dip some days during the summer and go to the free movie.  It’s a win win.. they get wet and get to watch a movie.
Comment by Heather — May 29, 2009 @ 8:20 pm
My favorite activity with the kids is having picnics. We picnic at home, at the park, and even on a blanket in the living room on a rainy day. Having a picnic is one of our favorite things to do during the summer.
Comment by Jodie — May 29, 2009 @ 9:40 pm
We have a broad range of kids from age 8 to 21. We love to go hang out at the neighborhood recreation center. There is a pool, tennis courts and exercise equipment. When we just can’t be bothered to leave home, we like lots of card games (Hearts and Spoons are family favorites).
Comment by Elizabeth — May 30, 2009 @ 4:51 pm
My daughter is 5, and our favorite activity is blowing bubbles. Our deck always has several bottles in varying sizes & colors.
Comment by Victoria — May 31, 2009 @ 11:10 am
My daughter just turned one and we’ve been having a great time blowing bubbles, playing in a container full of cornmeal, and using the hose like a sprinkler. Of course I’m taking lots of pictures and grateful for every moment.
Comment by Janna Antenorcruz — May 31, 2009 @ 9:34 pm
My favorite summertime activity is a tie between barbequing dinner with Andrew or taking photos. The light is just SO good in the summer evenings!
Comment by Dianna — June 1, 2009 @ 8:28 am
I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old. I was fortunate enough to stay home with my oldest until he was about 18 months old. My daughter was 8 weeks old when we put her in Montessori so I could go back to work. It was the hardest thing I ever did and still hurts my heart. I was laid off in December of last year and while money is a stressful concern at times I admittedly bask in the good fortune of being able to spend more time with my kids. Now, that being said…they drive me crazy! I am convinced I will be in a home for the mentally unstable by the time I am 40 (which is in about 7 years). It is difficult at best to maintain their desire for attention and entertainment. The transition from working full time and seeing my kids a couple of hours a day to staying at home has been “interesting”. I had these grand ideas of how it would all be this beautiful romantic life altering experience. It was much akin to the childhood fantasies of becoming a mother. I had romanticized it in my head for so long while I was working full time I lost touch with the reality of it. I have had time to adjust and everyday is another adjustment b/c they are so dynamic. I started making a conscious effort to participate in some activity with them. When the weather permits we love gardening activities. They love helping me water the plants b/c I put them in bathing suits so they can play in the water. When it is too hot we love to do arts and crafts. I keep a supply of inexpensive craft items like crayons, markers, construction paper, pom poms, foam stickers, finger paints etc. and we collage. Kids love to collage b/c it seems to give them more freedom than coloring or drawing alone does. I was also told by more than one teacher that allowing little ones to use glue (supervised of course) helps to develop the muscles they need for writing later on. We have graduated to magazine clippings and stickers recently and I’m sure nature will be the next medium. :o) Thanks for the great blog. It’s nice to know I’m not alone.
Comment by Rebekah — June 1, 2009 @ 9:58 am
We love camping in the summer. I’m too much of a wuss to go in spring or fall.
Comment by Michele — June 2, 2009 @ 10:29 am
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