So in the summer the parenting blogs are FILLED with ideas for activities, camp suggestions, vacation suggestions, etc. An endless list of things to keep your ankle biters engaged and occupied all summer long.
And yes. We have done SOME things and we have plans to cram in a few more day trips and so on (testing out the new Ford Explorer next week!), but someday’s I either:
a) don’t have the money
b) don’t have a car
c) am horrified by taking 3 kids on public transit
d) have other things to do
e) or just don’t feel like it.
Today was a perfect storm of that……perfect in that the children were in perfect agreement and in fact led me in the decision to happily lay around in their pajama’s for most of the day. I am dressed if you count yoga pants as dressed. Tara WAS dressed but then wanted a second bath and then I couldn’t be bothered again. Before that is was naked pee on anything I want time and I was okay with that.
Today, we have chatted, laughed, played Angry Birds together, watched shows together, lay on the bed together. We have been together in our slackerdom and enjoyed every minute of it.
Last summer we hardly saw Adam as he was always away with the neighbour’s at some pool or another. This year there seems to be NO kids around. It is a ghost town around here till after supper. So yes, it has been up to me to make sure they are active and burning up their energy and having fun. Now that we are on the road to the end of Summer, we seem to be all in sync with our ebb and flow of energy and today….was a fun day.
This was one of the few days that I haven’t felt anxiety about ‘doing stuff’ with the kids. I always feel that I am not fulfilling my parental role or screw them up if they are not stimulated by something new every day. And yes I totally agree that sitting inside is not good for anyway….but sometimes it is just fine. Especially when we are stimulating each other by TALKING to each other. Engaging. Being excited by what each other has to say.
I like my kids. They drive me batshit crazy. But I really like them. I feed of their energy and enthusiasm.
We have totally gone feral this summer, which is unsettling for my husband who is still trying to work and still trying to deal with his routine and is surrounded by people who are eating and sleeping at odd times.
His dinners have been odd to say the least.
Hey…at least I have managed the laundry.
My kids are the same ages as yours and we have some things this summer but we have lots of time just hanging out at home, the kids usually in their underwear. I think it’s been the perfect summer! Glad you are enjoying yours.