Why Summer Break Scares Me

I too feel the same way. For years, I felt horrible that I wished the summer away because I wanted them to go back to school. But my boys were smaller and needier. What I have learnt over the years, is to go day by day. The second thing I learned is to sit down with all three boys, give them a stack of index cards and have them write down one thing on each card they want to do. This even includes trips to the ice cream store. I too write down things I want to do with them. After they wrote down everything they want to do, we go over it as a family. Then we fold up the cards and put it in a big Tupperware container. Then say every Tuesday, we pick a card and do it. If we have another free day, we will pick another card. This stops all of the “what are we going to do today?” questions. And the boys also know that we are doing things they want to do. And before you know it’s back to school, and I always, “Thank God they are going back to school! “

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Modeling and Acting for Children. Use the summer to earn some money. All Ages

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Um, no, you are not. Pretty sure you are in the majority....

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I am fortunate enough to live in a metro area with a zoo, an aquarium, and a science museum nearby. My kids and I have saved to buy family passes to each of them, one at a time. Whenever they are bored, we pick one, and go spend the afternoon somewhere fun. The zoo has a great water playground area, and the aquarium and the museum are indoors, so it is great on those too-hot summer days! We also have easy access to the beach and often take our puppy to the dog park (located inside of a larger park with a huge playground). I've always dreaded days off school, long weekends, and especially summer because I just was not sure how to keep the kids entertained, but I've figured it out! A few days a week, we go somewhere as a family, a few days a week, we hang out around the pool, and a couple of days we just stay home and relax (and get the house cleaned!) I may try to throw in a couple of weeks of day camp at the YMCA for variety (and a break), we'll see. We are playing this summer by ear :)

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I feel so bad for you, because you are misguided. Your responsibility is to make sure your kids are safe during the summer not entertained. My mother never entertained my sister and I during the summer. We were sent outside to play with our friends. We played school, bikes, Barbies, and had almost daily kickball games with the boys next door. One summer I had a pet worm and another I invented tree fishing, which was basically a clothespin on a rope thrown into a tree to catch a leaf. We made up dance routines and played board games. No one I new could afford summer camp or anything like that unless it was a week at church camp or vacation bible school. If I had asked my mother for something to do, she would have handed me a broom or a dust rag not craft paper. We played on the porch or the sidewalk or the yards and if it was really hot, the basements that were not finished, but wonderfully cool or sometimes the neighbor's in ground pool, if her mom could watch us. My kids are much the same, except I allow them in the house more because I like to be able to "see" them. My son is 16 and my daughter is 12, but even when they were younger I didn't entertain them the way you are talking about. Relax. If they are bored, hand them a book, a mop or print off a math work sheet to keep up their skills. I guarantee that they will find other things to do.

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It isn't parents' job to entertain their kids or be their kids' playmate. I think that is the basic problem with your thinking.

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You are not alone! Many mothers feel the same way, including me. What I've discovered is that my kids like and need to have their time structured somewhat. I started having a daily schedule that provides some quiet time for myself as well as plenty of fun time for them. They have chores that are scheduled, as well as reading time, math time (buy a couple of work books), and free play time. I find that they play really well during their free time without running to me all the time if they know that play time is limited. It is just too much to ask of anyone to do nothing but entertain children 24 hours a day. They can entertain themselves and give you a few moments of peace. I also have things that include me on the daily schedule, so I feel like I get to spend time with them without becoming overwhelmed.

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A) As other posters have said, you are their mother, not their TV. Let them do stuff by themselves, play by themselves, and develop their imaginations. Provide them with books, crayons and coloring pages and let them have fun!

B) Check out your local library. Virtually every public library has SOME kind of program for kids during the summer! It might be just for a day or two a week, but if you're taking the kid to a (free!) magic show at the library, the kids are going to be focused on the magician, not you - and you'll probably enjoy the show too!

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Kids should not be sent outside without supervison. My friend's son just got hit by a car and nearly died when he was playing chicken, and crossed the street. Kids should be interactive with their parents. And instead of spending two grand on their broken arm, or some other abnormality, along with shunning them, spend $100-200 on some season passes to a local theme park!

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what is wrong with parents these days? you are creating monsters that will grow up thinking everyone owes me and must entertain me. You make them less creative, unprepared for the world.
HAPPINESS is a inside job ! we must be happy inside , not expect everyone else to MAKE us happy.
These kids will grow up NEVER happy as they will always be looking for someone ELSE to make them happy. Its not MY job.
Its YOURS and no one ever will be, they will go through life miserable . Let them go play and make THEMSELVES happy.

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Wow. I sure wish I was blessed enough to spend the summer with my child. Unfortunately, I have to work. Instead, the "Mama!" calls I get are when my one-year-old is reaching for me as as I walk out the front door.

Maybe you could do what I do. Suck it up.

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First all I agree with the posters that say you're not meant to entertain the 24/7. I work full time and my 10 year old will go to day camp where his 15 year old brother will be the CIT for 6 weeks but for the other weeks they're on their own. I expect them to behave and the older one watch the younger one. They can go to the park or the river (life guard is on duty). They can not have friends over if I'm not home so they entertain each other. Yes it's nice to do things with you're children by all means. I take days off and we do day trips and I certainly spend time with them but at some point there is also the enough is enough moment where I need to breathe as well.

Michelle....I don't know how old your friends son was who got hit by the car. Either way too young to be left alone or an ass for playing chicken in the street. For goodness sake my 10 year old knows not to play in the street. Let you're kids grow up and have some responsibility, they may surprise you.

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