The Schedule Remains the Same

My poor kids. Other children get to sleep late now that the school year has concluded. Mine still have to be up and about by 7:00 so I can bring them to "summer care" on my way to work. The summer care program is run by the district at the same school where the before and after care program is run during the school year. It's fab for working parents: opens at 7:30 and closes at 6:00. I frankly have no idea what other working parents do about day camps that have hours like 9 to 3. How do they keep their jobs during the summer? Sleepaway camps cost the earth (for one child it's more than we pay for our three children combined).

There are other nice aspects of this situation. The staff is mostly the same from the school year (which is mostly a good thing) but there are two male teachers who join the group for the summer. One, the owner's son, is a music teacher, and he has done some fabulous work with my older two boys. They've learned how to play the lap harp (oh c'mon it's really cute) and last summer Son #1 learned some drums, guitar, and keyboards. They have theme days and barbecues at the school, plus a sprinkler for when it gets too darned hot. They go on trips at least once a week, mostly to parks. A few really nice trips are taken to see ball games or museums or performances. At the end of the session they do a talent show. All included in the price, including breakfast and lunch and snacks. Too bad it's only seven weeks and not ten. Oh well, nothing's ALL good...