WFMW: Summertime, Kids and Working Moms

Shannon over at Rocks in my Dryer is asking for suggestions for entertaining kids during the summer. I'm eager to hear some good ones myself, because as a parent to an only child, I often am called on to play. And can I just say that after several days of playing H-O-R-S-E with Logan's new basketball hoop, I'm about to lose my mind.

As a working mom, my suggestion is to sign you kid(s) up with a good Summer Camp Program. I'm excited about the one we chose for Logan for a couple of reasons.

For one thing they have themed weeks with activities and field trips to compliment. And the field trips aren't lame Chuckee Cheese outings either. These kids are going to Sleeping Bear Dunes, Great Wolf Lodge, Wilderness Adventure and other really cool places. So that is fabulous in my opinion and Logan should be pretty worn out by the time I pick him up at 4:45pm every night.

The thing that sealed the deal for me, however, is that lunch is provided. I hate packing lunches with ever fiber of my being. But I do it every day and I do it with love. Except for this summer. When I get a much deserved break. (Well, except that I'll still be packing my husband's.) (Every day.) (For the rest of my life.)

When we get home from work and school/day camp we like to play outside. In addition to games like H-O-R-S-E (I'm assuming everyone knows this game. Here's a link for those who don't), we also play 4-Square (link provided. You're welcome.), Tennis, Ride Bikes and Search for Bugs.

We'll also invite his cousin over to play. That gives me a break from having to keep up with my almost six year old, and gives Sassy some alone time with Boogs.

But you know what my kid really likes? Projects. He's like his daddy and wants to be productive. So I'll have him clean out my car. Or help me cook dinner. Or organize my Tupperware cupboard. Or weed the garden. He digs that. And, well...I like to watch BRAVO and sit in the sun and read. So it works out really well for both of us.

If you want more suggestions, go see Shannon.



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Untitled.

The Sister Honey Bunch family babysat for Sassy tonight so she could go on a hot date with her husband.

So, while she was enjoying yummy appetizers, a salad, an entree and dessert, I was changing her youngest kid's poopy diaper. I'm just sayin'.

We did our best to wear the boys out. They played basketball, badmitton, rode bikes, did some driveway art, kicked around a soccer ball, built a fort and colored pictures.

Then they decided they were starving and had some trail mix and Popsicles.

And when I say "trail mix" I mean Teddy Grahams, Cheese Its, Pretzels and Raisins. All in the same bowl. I'm not crazy, you know.

Then they collapsed in front of the TV to watch a movie.

Here are Sassy's brats with their Uncle Tom watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Here's my brat. He walked out of the shower to discover his cousins snuggled up with his daddy. Sometimes that don't sit so well with an only child. That only child might have to barge his way in on the action.

Sometimes Sassy's oldest gets a little annoyed when that happens and he gets squished in the corner of the chair. Good times. Good times.
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There's Nothing to See Here. Just Keep Moving Along.

Unless you are my son's aunt, uncle, cousin or grandparen, this post will bore you to tears. It won't hurt my feelings if you just click the little red box in the corner of your browser and come back again tomorrow.

If you stick around, thank you. And I'm sorry your life is so boring that you found reading this a better alternative.
OK. So here's Logan. In the backyard all alone. Because he's an only child and I can't always be his playmate.

He's waiting for his daddy to quit planting something, or digging some hole, or carrying some bricks somewhere.

Because then they can actually kick the soccer ball together, which is more fun than kicking it alone.

Logan dominated at soccer today. As much as an almost-six year old can dominate, that is.

My kid is every bit a sports fanatic. Obsessively so. He does indeed sleep while wearing his baseball mitt.

So, this is how we spend our week ends. Playing basketball (he beats me at HORSE often), tennis (he hits the ball as far away from me as possible), baseball and soccer.

We also ride bikes and go for walks. You'd think I'd be a skinny minnie. ~Le sigh~
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Parenting an Only Child

My son has begun asking me the question I absolutely positively hate the most: when are we going to have another baby? (Dude. I can't believe I'm getting that question from you now ) The fact that we're not going to have another child is a huge regret in my life. One that I hope will go away soon.

Sassy and I grew up in a very large family. I have seven brothers and sisters, seven sisters and brothers in-law and 16 nieces and nephews. I can't imagine not having each and every single one of them in my life. It makes me sad that Logan will never experience family dinners, vacations, or holidays the way I did. It makes me feel bad that he won't have a buddy growing up and a best friend as an adult who is also his brother or sister. I really hate that.

Here's the thing. I was told by my doctors for years that getting pregnant would be difficult for me. I was beyond shocked when I found out I was indeed pregnant with Logan. When I had him, I was 34 and went through some serious postpartum depression. It took me a long time to work through all of that garbage.

So, now I'm 40. I am emotionally at a place where we could have another baby. We are financially comfortable where adding to our family wouldn't be a struggle. But we just don't think we want to. There are a lot of risks involved for both mother and baby when you reach a certain age. And let's face it. It's a lot of work taking care of a newborn. They kinda cramp your style, if you know what I mean. A baby would mess up my sleep schedule, my romantic life and my social life.

We've got it made right now. It's not a lot of work to go ice skating, to the library or the beach. We no longer have to pack a u-haul to travel downstate. Taking the boat out includes only sunscreen, food and drinks and peeing off the back (Logan, not me.)

While I am torn wishing I could give Logan a brother or sister, I am also a little selfish, I guess. Tom and I don't want to go back to the sleepless nights and tired days. We don't want to change diapers. (Although, walking out of the video store yesterday, Logan did announce "Mom, my butt really itches. I think I have some dried poop in it". In a loud voice. I was very proud.) More importantly, I don't want to risk hurting my marriage because of the postpartum hell I put my husband through the first time.

But am I doing a disservice to my kid? Late Saturday afternoon Logan was plain over me. We had gone ice skating and had a lot of fun. Or so I thought, until he let me know that he would really rather do anything but play Yahtzee Jr. with me. I'm his mom. He's five. He wants a friend to be all rough-and-tumble with and I was beginning to bore him.

So, I called up Sassy and asked if we could pick up Kiki and take him to the play area at the mall with us. When we got there, one of Logan's classmates ran up to the boys and they all took off and played. I loved watching them interact and see the mischievous looks and listening to their laughter.

And that's when it occurred to me. (Because I'm a little slow on the uptake.) I need to be more proactive and actually arrange these kinds of activities. Being a working mom, I have never scheduled a play date. Ever. Frankly, I'm not even sure how they work (Do I pick the kid up? Does the mom hang out with us? Do I take them somewhere or do we just stay home? If Logan goes to their house, does that mean I'm free to go have myself lunch and a Mojito with a girlfriend?) I do know that I cannot be all things to my son. Nor can I fully appreciate the humor of the gross boy-noises he enjoys. I need to find him someone who does. Pronto.

So I wrestle with my occasional annoyance at having to play yet another game of Sorry when I really want to read my book or watch What Not to Wear. I fight my sadness at not being able to give Logan a bigger family. I talk myself out of my guilt that "this" is all he gets.

But I am also happy every day. I love my kid. I dig my husband. We have fun together just the three of us. I acknowledge that he does need more, and I am committed to making that happen. I just don't plan on giving birth in order to do so.


I have completely forgotten about Lent Family Devotional with Sister Honey Bunch. Sorry, ya'll! I have been asked to include discussion tips for around the dinner table. Ummmm...I am so not an expert at this. We kind of wing it, frankly. I will try to add things we will probably chat about at our house but we will probably segue into talking about why Logan thinks Brett Favre should play for the Lions. Hope it helps.

GOD PROVIDES FOR YOU MATT 6:33
"But put God's kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do. Then all of those things will also be given to you."

• Our job is to be kind to others. Not to focus on ourself.
• If there is a classmate who seems sad or off playing alone, go talk to him. Invite him to play with you and your friends.
• Remember a time when someone was nice to you when you were feeling sad? Try to do that for another kid and help cheer him up.
• Focus on being nice to other people, and don't always talk about getting a new football jersey or new Power Ranger or going to McDonald's.
• If I see you doing those nice things, I will be more likely to do nice things for you. Like get the Power Ranger, football jersey, etc.
• God will do the the same kind of thing. Only bigger.
  

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