School's Out -- Now What?

Posted by Charlene Prince Birkeland

Around my hood kids are already out of school for summer vacation. I, however, am safe for another two weeks before my oldest son, Nol, is out of school. And then all hell will break loose and my work life will be sent into a time management tailspin. I'm exaggerating, of course. It won't be a complete tailspin. Just a teeny one.

My flexible, freelance schedule is a dream come true -- until summer vacation hits. Nol is only five and in my attempt to preserve his innocence from "all day school" until the Fall, I'm having him attend half-day summer camp. Only in kindergarten-summer-camp lingo, "half-day" ain't all that.

To me, the phrase "half day" means breakfast time through lunch, 8am - 1pm. But to my son's summer camp, it means only three hours. Contrast this with his current 5.5 hours at school, and I'm looking at a 2.5 hour work deficit a day. All this means is that I'll be working early in the morning and late at night for two months until kindergarten begins. And doing a little more of a scheduling circus act than normal. l'll live.

Planning for summer camp entails beginning your search as soon as February, when many daycares and city park and rec departments begin issuing their summer schedules. In my area, if your child isn't registered by April, you can kiss thoughts of summer camp goodbye and begin your quest for a summer nanny or babysitter.

At least I'm top of the summer school planning this year. Last year, I foolishly decided to keep Nol home with me, thinking he needed a break from his routine. Wrong, wrong, wrong. I realized my mistake a week into his vacation and frantically began calling local summer camps for an open spot. I had no such luck, of course. We muddled through summer with day trips and the help of a local high-school student. But I vowed I would be better prepared -- and not so idealistic -- in the future.

This year, I will admit that I'm looking forward to spending afternoons with Nol during the week. I admit that I'm not sure what I would do if I had a more traditional job where I would need to work 9-5 everyday. I will also admit that I can't even being to factor in when my younger son begins school versus his year-round daycare, when I'll have two kids out of school for the summer.

And finally, I confess the concept of year-round school never looked so appealing.

My fellow working moms with school-age kids -- how do you handle summer vacation?

 

Comments

[Beth B.]

I sign up my kids for camp - the WHOLE summer except for a week vacation we are taking. I also know moms last year that did not sign up for any camp and also tried to find one mid-summer. I just can't entertain my boys all summer even if I did not work.

If you find the right camp to suit your child, then they can have a fun summer. And as you said, the afternoons are free to go to a pool or do something because the days are longer anyway.