Keeping Your Sanity

I have to admit that summer vacation for us is actually a pretty stressful time. Without the routine of school, Zach gets all out of sorts. He thrives on routine. Needs it. I on the other hand rejoice that I don’t have to put a bra on by 8am and be seen in public five mornings a week. You’d think being a military family we’d be more structured, but structure is just not in my DNA. I have no problem with limits, boundaries, and discipline. I just can’t seem to plan out days like a teacher would where every minute is accounted for, and that’s the sort of structure Zach likes. I’ve tried. I really have, but I last all of about two days before I bag the whole program.

Since I’m so bad at structure on my own, I enlist the help of professionals during the summer. Zach is taking swim lessons for two weeks. A person wouldn’t think an hour of swimming each day would make a difference, but it does. He starts asking me at 8am if ti’s time to leave when his lesson is at 10am. The pool is a 15 minute walk from our house, and a 3 minute drive if I have to.

I also signed him up for vacation bible school. I didn’t have a particularly religious family growing up, but I always attended VBS with some friends. It was always a good time, and a week where I got to leave the house and do something with other kids. This will be Zach’s first year at VBS, but I think he’ll have fun too. It’s also another week of structured mornings.

Of course there are always summer camps. Our Youth Services offers one here on post, but that costs money. I just hate to pay for someone to essentially babysit my child every day when I’m a SAHM. Maybe if it were only Zach and it would give me a total break now and then, but I’ve got a 2yo at home as well who’s not old enough to attend yet. But camps are always an option as Zach and even his brother get older and want more structure than I can provide them. For now, allowing Zach to earn time on the Wii while his little brother naps has worked so far to curb his bad choice making during the day.

I think part of being a good parent is knowing your strengths and your weaknesses. One of my weaknesses is creating a highly structured day every day.