Yes, the fact that my children only have two days of school left makes me a little panicky.  I’m always ready for a break from the morning routine and from homework, but I do like that school provides separation for them for 6.5 hours.  They are very close in age, and fight A LOT.  Sure, there are times when they play well together, but they honestly just get tired of being together all day.  And this is what makes me panicky.  How on earth are we going to make it through 75 days of togetherness??  Yes, I know how many days they have of summer vacation.  It helps me to know what I’m in for and how to plan.  I won’t necessarily be counting down (not right away at least), I just need to know.

Here are some things I have done to help with this.  We have, for the first time, bought a pool membership and I’m SO excited!!  It opens at 11:30 every day – perfect.  We can go with lunches packed.  I’m only working 12-4 two days a week this summer, the rest of the days we’ll probably be poolside.  Many of our neighbors also have memberships, so they can play with their own friends and the pool will provide separation.

Eli is signing up for Wildcats again, which means we’ll be  there four mornings a week – which I’m not completely in love with, but he really, truly is.  So we’ll go.  The girls will make new friends and take barbies.  For one hour a morning, baseball will provide separation.

Grace has asked if she can take tennis lessons, so I got online and discovered that the park one block away offers 6 tennis lessons in June for $24.  Yes please.  For one hour, twice a week, tennis will provide separation.

For one week, Grace and Eli are going to church camp!  They can’t wait.  I have the week off of work and I get to hang out with Ada.  I really can’t wait for this precious time with her to move at HER pace, and say yes to the realistic asks, and the mostly realistic asks.  This will provide some serious separation.

And I’m sure they will have regular bedroom time, where they have to be in their own rooms with the doors closed.  These kids of mine just need separation from each other somewhat regularly so that they remember they actually DO like playing together, or at least that they’re capable of it.

What about you?  What are your plans to make summer break successful?
And I know that “summer break success” looks different to every family.
Yours might be togetherness 🙂

[subscribe2]