We started the summer without plans. We felt that we were going to have a stress-free, relatively unscheduled summer. No school, less therapy, no soccer or ballet. Relaxation was on the calendar. Tom is off from work for the summer (the benefits of teaching), the real estate market is slow (yuck!)... therefore we were going to enjoy a summer at home, together (all five of us!) with no where to go, nothing to do, no schedule, no anything!
Yikes... what were we thinking???? Two weeks in to the summer vacation, I decided that our plan was not the plan of rocket scientists. I really wanted to believe that we could just relax and enjoy... but day after day the kids woke up, had breakfast, watched a bit of TV, and fought with each other and us, then came lunch, playtime, dinner, bath and bed. It was a bit too monotonous, they missed seeing other people (even though we went to the park, for bike rides, swimming, etc.) Aliza especially showed us that she needed the routine and structure of school. She would wake up and say, what are we doing today? Why am I getting dressed, where are we going? This was constant for her. Without the routine of our regular schedule, she was lost. So I called the school and asked if it was too late to register for summer school? We had the option of a full day, 4 days per week, but I choose a half day. I did want her to be able to go with us to the pool and park and enjoy some of her summer activities. We also called the church and registered for Vacation Bible School. So after two weeks of nothing, we were all of a sudden scheduled and back to our routine... go, go, go This is what our kids are used to, being on the go. Because we are both home, we have really taken advantage of the opportunities for R & R. I have been able to sleep in, we are having family game night regularly and long family bike rides are the norm. Our typical schedule during the school year has us on the go in different directions, now we are on the go as a family.
Aliza attended summer school for two weeks. She was the only girl in a class with 6 boys. She missed her girl friends and realized that her siblings were not going to school also, but staying home having fun with mom and dad. She began to really have a fit about going to school and said to me that she didn't want to go to school because it is "my whole summer day" I conceded, and she has settled in to a summer without school or routine. She has gotten used to not being on the go, and we are all enjoying each others company the way summers should be.
