This week is the first week that the kids are HOME from school.
We are on two different school calendars: I finished my school year on June 14th, the kids: June 27th. Plus I pulled them out on June 25-27 to go camping.
We are kinda sorta falling into a routine: in the morning/afternoon we do an activity or go somewhere (i.e. down the shore), and in the late afternoon/evening the kids play/watch movies/swim in our tiny pool/roam in the wooded area behind our patio (fenced in). I told them: “don’t come back unless you have found at least three snails and one mosquito.” They were there for a while.
It took me three days to unpack, clean, and repack all the camping gear, and do all the laundry. Some bins are still downstairs and should be brought into the basement. The day after we came back from camping, we just rested. My body hurt, I needed a down day. But on the weekend we went to the beach, the library, and the playground.
On Sunday night I sat down and schemed what I can do with the kids this week, since they are home, I am home, and T is working. Next week they have camp for the next three weeks, then Italy, then it’s the end of August.
So, yesterday we went to an amusement park in Hope, NJ: The Land of Make Believe. The park is not big and caters to small kids, aged up to 12, maybe? So my kids, who are 4 and 6, could ride all of the rides of their choice. It was very quiet, no lines, and we could ride some rides over and over again, without getting off. Isn’t that wonderful? There was also a waterpark, with a lazy river, a wading pool, and water slides. How fun. I am not an amusement park kind of person but, let me whisper in your ear… I had a good time.
Today, Tuesday, we did another beach day. Rather, a half a day. We left early at 9am and came home at around 2pm. Happy to share that the kids were particularly good.
I even had segments of time where I did not have to referee. I could read my book while they scrambled in the sand next to me, built and destroyed sand castles and bridges, and ate non-stop. When we came back, the kids watched a movie then R had Brazilian jiu jitsu in the late afternoon.
There are moments when I am like “I am so sick of you two.” Especially when they fight, or argue, or whine, or fake burp, or real burp, or fake/real fart, or make weird and kind of disturbing noises with their mouths, or fingers, or toes, or all three. And then a second later they have the nerve to ask for ice cream!
Some sanity savers for this summer are:
The beach (we go to the same beach over and over)
Brazilian jiu jitsu lessons for R
Piano lessons for L
Our small pool + the woodsy area in the back
TV/movies
Library visits
Yoga for me! Just signed up today and going to my first class tomorrow morning. 🙌
Mom of Children 