A 1950s Summer

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I am fortunate enough to be a stay at home mom. I used to be a preschool teacher before I had my own children. It is eerily similar. So lately I've been making my summer plans. My sons play basketball. My older son plays the cello, and flag football. My middle son takes horse back riding lessons and plays the violin. My daughter does gymnastics and tumbling. During the school year I am in an active mode. My kids go to school all day, and then after school we usually have one activity for them. The week fills up quickly. As I was talking to my husband about our summer, vacations, and adventures we thought, "wouldn't it be nice to not have anywhere we HAD to be."

As I talk to other moms and friends, I noticed they all have plans for many activities. Now, I am fortunate enough to be able to stay home with my kids, other moms have full time work and have to sign up for all day camps and babysitting. But, from what I've seen and heard, most kids whether their parents work or not, seem to have a busy schedule. I think this can work depending on the family, the kids, and the parents.  

My personality as a mom is to be a lot less busy than the average mom. I was looking around at all the choices kids have today for activities, and my head spins, so I decided to have a 1950s summer.

what does this mean and how do I get away with it during a such a busy busy lifestyle that has been created in our society? Well, we joined a pool. That is my only plan. There are tons of kids from school that belong to this pool from the neighborhood. Think- the sandlot. It is a no frills pool, with a small snack bar and one diving board. We can go everyday, or not. I have paused all of our sporting and musical activities in order to leave room for boredom. 

When my kids don't have an activity to run to, I see their minds working in a creative way. They are playing in the woods, and jumping on the trampoline, and making up games. We can go to the park, ride bikes, and play. My kids will have time to PLAY! 

We go to Maine a couple times over the summer. We don't have a rush to come back to go to a practice. My kids only obligation will be to just be kids. They can literally play all day. My oldest son is 11. He is already wanting to hang out with me less. I don't want to over book him and lose that precious time. Believe me this isn't the first summer where I am on my own with three kids home, and it can be difficult. But, as I see them in school all day long, and then a sports commitment after that long day, I hope they can enjoy their 3 months of relaxation and recharging. 

I remember the show, "The Wonder Years." Those kids had simple lives. I think we are lucky in many ways, this day and age. But I also think we are unfortunate in many ways. We are over saturated with technology, and schedules. Back then there was a freedom I don't think we see today. I want my kids to have that emotional and physical freedom to be themselves, and not feel the kind of pressure we all can put on ourselves today. Long live the wonder years !