Two months and a week. That’s what we’re calling summer and it’s
not enough time at Camp Irwin! In our blended household, kids are
going in every direction with different sets of grandparents and on
separate vacations with their
”
other
”
parents.
Two months and a week. That’s what we’re calling summer and it’s not enough time at Camp Irwin! In our blended household, kids are going in every direction with different sets of grandparents and on separate vacations with their “other” parents.
The lack of attendance in our family functions is also magnified by the fact that my 16-year-old is rarely home anymore and has her own social calendar, which I understand. However, we do expect some family time and fitting it in between work and other mandatory commitments has been quite challenging. I never imagined how much time I would spend massaging so many schedules. I actually have a master calendar on the wall in the form of a grease board. It’s most attractive quality of course being erasable. It holds four months at a time. I do not agree to anything without checking my calendar first!
So this two months and a week my schedule is full of guitar lessons, orthodontic checkups, youth group events, Rainbow Girls events, Cub Scout events, downtown movie nights, “every Friday (you choose) fun day,” a ceramics class, volunteering at the Senior Center, and kids vacation schedules with other relatives. I’ve reverted to driving the old commuter car which gets better gas mileage. But the bottom line is, I’m beat! I’m thoroughly exhausted. I have literally stumbled straight to my bed on occasion and collapsed fully dressed, face first, only to be awakened after a blink by the harmonizing sound of three cats meowing for their breakfast at 6am.
I’m beginning to wonder what my REAL obligations are here. I want the kids to have a great summer, but I’m starting to question how much of this is MY responsibility? Shouldn’t they be required at some point to entertain themselves with the thousands of dollars we have invested in activities here at home? What … at least fifty board games, equally as many video games, bicycles, go karts, a petting zoo including a mini-pony and pygmy goats, at least 100 movies and acres of land … you would think at some point they would recognize their own surroundings and think, “wow, cool, let’s stay home and play with our own stuff right here!”
My camp consists of three kids: one approaching her senior year at GHS, one entering eighth grade at Ascencion Solorsano Middle School and a 9-year-old going into fifth grade at the new Las Animas School. All three of them have different interests. Now I’m looking at those mom’s who have two or three kids close in age (who I used to snicker at with all those diapers at the same time) with envy. Her two months and a week might be easier than mine. I wonder if she gets to enjoy her home and read a book while the little ones are napping? I’ll bet her summer cabin isn’t the interior of a ’98 Dodge Neon and all the kids are thrilled to go play at Gilroy Gardens.
You know the truth of it is, I think I’m knocking myself out more for me than for them. When I was a kid we rode our bikes to town and never worried about “bad people.” I think it’s tougher these days because we are more aware of preditors (like the levee rapist) and concerned about kids being hit by cars. I’m sure they would be fine if I turned them loose, but I’m not willing to take that chance. I also have to admit, until recently I have had a slight hint of a competitive edge when it comes to making sure they have something good to tell the visiting parent. Nothing is more distressing than the visiting parent asking them what they have been doing and hearing their sorrowful answer, “nothing.” I think as of this moment, I’m officially over that.
Here at Camp Irwin, the remainder of our two months and a week has been newly revised and rescheduled. I’m erasing the grease board and I’ve decided to play a new game with the kids. It’s called, “let’s see how much money we can save.” And I have vowed to myself not to feel guilty about long hot days at home “doing nothing.”
