I know I’m lucky to get to be a stay at home mom. The sacrifices my hubby and I have made to raise our daughter, and later, for me to be able to write, have been worth it.
But I’m really friggin’ ready for school to start, and I feel totally guilty.
I’ve tried to do as much as I could with her this summer. I’ve taken her to several movies. Our favorites were Star Trek: Into Darkness (she loves Chris Pine, too. Fabulous taste, just like her mother), Iron Man 3, and Despicable Me 2. We’ve seen several more, but those top our list. We’ve done the museum, the historical home, the park. I took her for a long weekend to visit friends in the Twin Cities and we hit the Minneapolis Museum of History and Como Zoo. Of course there’s swim team and various play dates. And oh yeah, that Justin Bieber concert in Des Moines that took ninety minutes between the second opening act and the “star” attraction.
I’ve done a lot with her – more than my parents were able to do with me. Hell, when we were kids, it was “go outside and entertain yourself.” I wonder why we’ve changed so much as a society. Kids dominate our schedules, and so many of them, like my own child, are so spoiled by STUFF and DOING THINGS that simple down time can be boring.
But I still feel as though I haven’t made enough time for her. And yet I am counting the days – 11! – until school starts. Which adds on to the guilty, of course.
Do other parents go through this for summer? What activities have you done with the kiddos to keep them entertained?
Brooke Pratt
You are not the only one! I haven’t even been as good of a”bad-mom” as you. We live in Florida & it was literally too hot to go outside most days. we did lots of movies watching & book reading.
My youngest goes into Kindergarten & my oldest is starting High School. I really need some “me” time to get work done. =o)
Cynthia Robertson
Oh I remember those days, Stacy, and boy are they ever guilt inducing!
She’s adorable, btw.
EL
OMG, summer sucks!!! LOL!! I’ve been the worst mom all summer. I swear it.
malanouette
I’m hearing it from a lot of moms, you’re not alone. And it does not make you a bad parent.
Julie Glover
I feel this way too, Stacy! But now that they are teens, I actually tell them that I’m counting down the days until school starts. They know that I love having them here, but I also get more done when they’re gone. Hang in there!
Catie Rhodes
Like I told you via text message, I think your kid has had an awesome summer. Like you, my folks didn’t have money for me to do much. I got to go to library once a week and exchange books. haha
You know, she might be just as ready for school to start just for something new.
Fallon
Don’t feel guilty. You’ve done a lot more with your daughter than I’ve done with my kids. We live out in the country, I don’t drive, and summer is the busy season for my husband(he works in road construction), so most of what we’ve done has been at home. Except for on weekends. And those have mostly been birthday parties, summer’s a busy time for those for us. But, I’m so ready for her to go back to school too. She’ll be in Kindergarten this year, which is full day. She was in Pre-K for a half day the last two years. I’m so ready. 3 more weeks here.
beverlydiehl
I think in some ways I had it easier as a single working mom. No question but that the offspring was going to be in some kind of day camp over the summer, and though we did “do” vacations sometimes (if/when baseball play-offs and All Stars were over), it wasn’t up to me to provide summer entertainment. Trips to water parks, movies, Disneyland, etc. all happened without me having to do much more than sign the permission slip. Still, it was always lovely when school was back “in” and we could get back to our normal routine.
Stacy Green
Thanks to everyone for commenting! It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who feels this way. I think routine is one of the things I am really missing, because that is what helps me write. And yes, she is getting bored. She thinks she doesn’t want to go back to school, but I think she’ll be happy when the day comes.
Thanks again!
Kassandra Lamb
Amazing how we long for summer vacation and then long just as ardently for it to be over so life can get back to normal. Let’s here it for routine!