By Andrea Marlene of Bumblebird Blog
It’s summer and the kids are out of school (or almost)! They’ve been looking forward to this since the school year started. And you’ve been looking forward to this, well, you haven’t really. No matter! There are many lists out there full of wonderful suggestions of hilariously fun things to do with your kids this summer.
This list isn’t one of them.
You see, all of the stuff on those other lists isn’t actually fun—for you. Because, after all, what’s the point of planning an amazing summer for your kids if you end up being miserable? Here you’ll find the truth about those “fun” suggestions. I give to you 8 things NOT to do with your kids this summer and the reasons why those things actually suck:
1. Go to the beach. We all know sunburns are no fun so just slap some sunscreen on your kids and – hold on second! Putting sunscreen on kids is one of the worst things you can ever do to them. I know because my kids said so. The way they scream and cry makes me certain that the neighbors think I torture them every time it’s sunny out.
2. Go to a pool. I don’t care how many articles out there tell me that I should quit being self-conscious. I am NOT wearing a swimsuit! Going to the pool also means that as I “relax,” I will be yelling “get off your brother!” and “quit splashing me!” repeatedly until I can finally convince the kids to leave.
3. Have a party. Oh, come on, you think, it’s summer! The kids can play outside. It will be fun!Until you wake up to a thunderstorm the day of the party and realize you are about to host 20 little monsters in your house and it’s costing you a lot of money.
4. Let them have friends over. The only reason to allow your kids to invite their friends over for a play date is because you want to be sure that YOUR kids really aren’t the worst behaved kids on the planet. Their friends are.
5. Go to a carnival. If you enjoy spending a week’s pay on crappy rides and gross food then by all means take your kids to a carnival. Your hobbies must also include standing in lines and trying not to lose your kids in a crowd.
6. Go on vacation. This sounds like it will be fun and it probably will – for the kids. You, on the other hand, will spend most of your time packing/unpacking and planning excursions and meals. And when you get home the piles of laundry will make you cry.
7. Play in the house. How can the kids possibly make messes so quickly? Wasn’t this place clean this morning? How much longer until school starts?!
8. Sign them up for a sports team. This one is the most deceptive of all. You think you’re doing something great; your kid will get exercise, learn to be a team player, and have fun. But you quickly realize that it will take over your life as you end up always rushing off to games or practices and lugging your other kids and half the house along.
So, now that we’ve gone over the list of things NOT to do with your kids this summer, you might be wondering, “What’s left?” Stay home, let the kids play outside and make their own fun. If you have to go somewhere, suck it up, but pour yourself a drink after the kids are in bed. Most importantly, don’t pressure yourself to make summer amazing for your kids at the cost of your own sanity.
Stay sane, parents. We’ll make it to back to school somehow.
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About Andrea Marlene
Andrea Marlene lives in Canada and is a wife and stay-at-home mother of three. She blogs about finding meaning in the mundane aspects of life at Bumblebird Blog and you can find her on Facebook.