(Weekends don’t count, apparently).
We’re not going away this year – too much to do and spend on the house – but this first day has gone pretty well so far.
I’ve got two girls and a dog to entertain, and I really love having them around, and miss them like crazy when they go back to school.
There.
I’ve distanced myself from half the women I know. The split seems to be 50/50 between those dreading the kids being off for 6 weeks, and those loving it! And I’m firmly in Team Loving It (sounds vaguely like a popular fast food – oops).
First things first – a nice long walk with the dog, and boy, it’s hot out there. And then with one happy, exhausted mutt bedded down for the morning, we headed into town for the thing we do every year – the library challenge. This year it’s called Story Lab, but the challenge is the same – read 6 books over the summer.
Youngest daughter picked out a varied bunch of books, including 2 Horrid Henry’s, 2 Eva Ibbotson’s , Ellen Renner’s Castle of Shadows (recommended by me), and an interactive crime novel, by Karen King, with podcasts giving extra clues. I’m intrigued by the interactive book, it strikes me as a clever balance between reading and technology, but my opinion doesn’t count – we will see what Youngest makes of it*.
Now, Eldest daughter has taken a different route entirely. We’re extremely fortunate that our local library lends ebooks, and she wants to try it out. She’s doubly lucky that her iPad is compatible with the Overdrive system the library employs, (seems like the Kindle, which Youngest and I both own, is not). I’m sure the selection isn’t huge, but Eldest didn’t want to take any tree books home with her on this trip.
Next stop was the park. Every kind of park life was on display; youngsters paddling in the fountain; teenagers skateboarding, and meeting up with friends; office workers soaking up the sun with their packed lunches; organised mums with happy, shiny children sitting down on picnic mats; and elderly couples taking in the scene on park benches.
I grabbed a coffee, Youngest paddled in the fountain, and Eldest climbed a tree.
And then we walked home for lunch.
Because I am not one of those organised mums with a picnic blanket.
Still, it’s only the first day.
I can always get better.
* Update: the podcasts are ‘well cool’, apparently, but ‘they kind of disrupt the flow of your reading’.
Sounds like you are off t a grand start! I used to love the school summer holidays. A welcome rest from all the rushing around to after school stuff, and a time to do stuff together.
Mine are teenagers now, eldest has just done a year of an apprenticeship, and youngest is going to go up into the sixth form after the holiday. They don’t want to hang out with mum!
Make the most of every moment, because children are only borrowed, and the time you had at the park – its not coming back.
Enjoy!
Thank you, and congratulations on being my very first comment.
You’re so right about the children, I love the time I get to spend with them, but I have one knocking on the door of the teenage years, and a younger daughter who’s racing to get there soon after. Don’t know how much longer I’ve got to hang out with them, but I’m taking your advice to enjoy and make the most of it. ( I do get more writing done when they’re at school though!)