Gym, Swim, Nap.
This is our routine. My energy and pocket book are wearing thin as the summer loses its novelty and the kids begin to use the "b" word. Bored. The grand adventures and rigorous schedule of June has suddenly lost its appeal and I begin to find ways to entertain and engage my kids with minimal effort on my part. My latest invention involves the hose.
Every day on the way to the gym we drive by Offspring's school and she will sigh and heavy sigh, and look longingly at the weed filled school yard and say something about how she wishes she was in school. "You and me both", I want to tell her, but I usually refrain.
Offspring did swim team this year, and we've been tied to the daily practices and weekend meets for several months now and it's wearing us down. Soon that will end and we'll be able to break the gym, swim, nap cycle. On the plus side, she's a great (and fast!) swimmer now.
I try not to wish away the summer, but the bickering between Offspring and Numero dos has become like a constant hum in the background of our home. Whines, shouts and blames are common place these days. I try to ignore the small stuff, and force them to work out their squabbles on their own--but occasionally, OK frequently, I've been known to find both parties at fault and send them to their rooms. This usually only delays the problem, not solve it.
I remember once when I was interviewing for a teaching position, one of the interviewers asked me what my approach to discipline was. I responded something along the lines of keeping kids and a class actively engaged usually takes care of most discipline problems. A simplistic answer to be sure, but it got me the job and it's true. If my kids are busy they don't fight--but it's hard to be the entertainment 24/7.
In 32 minutes it'll be August. The final summer push. Swim will end, and I'm hoping to get my second wind. This is mile 23 of the marathon. I have so much to be grateful for and so much to look forward to. I just need a stiff glass of Diet Coke and some new flip flops to see me through to the end.
What do you do to ward off the summer doldrums?
7 comments:
We've got a minor case around here, too. We've been spelling for chocolate chips. We've also made sure we're getting enough exercise. And the play dates, we're scheduling them like crazy. And we're school shopping. But we're still watching more TV than we should.
There is some wisdom in year round school. My suggestion is to move a little to the east (18 or so miles?). I've heard there's some pretty terrific people there!
I went to California. :D
Your summer sounds eerily similar to mine, at least right now. I think we might all make paper chains a la Christmas and tear one off each day until school starts. Like you said, it's hard to be the entertainment 24/7.
Come visit us! ;)
Gosh our summers are so busy we never really have doldrums. between late ending school/swim team thru late July, travels to CA and NY, and other things going on, we never even get stuff done we want to (long-term projects, short-term projects, things that are harder to do during the school year, you name it). living far away from family and traveling a lot really keeps the doldrums away. Miss you guys! :)
Schools is so rigorous...getting up early, making lunches, pusing kids out the door, reminding them of tennis shoes and assignment sheets and all the homework! But it's funny how by August you are longing for it and it can't come soon enough. We had a great summer, but these last few days have been rough. We're definitely ready for some structure around here!
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