If you, like me, are a working mother during the summer, summer vacation often becomes a test of endurance rather that a special time of enjoyment. You can make the most of your children's vacation by redirecting your F- O-C-U-S.
F = FunEach day this week, we will discuss ideas for planning a fun-filled, creative summer for you and your family.
O = Organize
C = Create
U = Unify
S = Survive
First of all, as the verse above reminds us, mothers throughout history have worked vigorously in the home and/or on the job. Balancing the activities of a family takes planning and lots of it. Before the final bell rings on the last day of school here are a few suggestions to put FUN into your summer.
1. Check out the resources available in your community.
a. Your city Parks and Recreation Department2. Check with your employer and discuss possible options for working a different schedule or share schedules with your husband or other mothers. One summer I reduced my hours from 40 to 30 and worked 3 - 10 hour days. This allowed me to have a 4 day weekend. I was able to find a college student to stay with my children on the three days that I worked and I planned activities for them to do. Another summer, when my children were older and could be home alone, I worked only in the mornings and took the afternoons off. They usually slept late anyway or if they had scheduled lessons or activities, I would plan to take them on my way to work.
b. Your local zoo
c. Neighborhood churches
d. Local camps
e. Network with other mothers and discuss work schedules/days off for planning day trips for your children and theirs. Take turns going to the pool, take a picnic to the lake or a field trip to a children's museum/waterpark in a city near you.
f. For more suggestions purchase A Mother's Manual for Summer Survival, by Kathy Peel and Joy Mahaffey
I would like to hear from you about your own solutions for summer survival as a working mom. Please e-mail me. See the address on the web page.