We are extremely active in the summers. While everyone else (for some reason) loads up on activities while kids are also juggling school, we save our busy-ness for the summer.
Believe it or not, I think it’s important for kids to have a lot of downtime and so when we are home, I try not to be too demanding.
That said, I still require some structure. You know, like getting dressed, keeping your room reasonably clean, daily reading, etc. They’re both such curious kids that I love to see what they come up with themselves and they’re constantly devising new games and ways to stay entertained. Last week, they each decided to research and do a presentation on different animals. Hadley chose a marmot and Bode, a tiger.
Bonus points to Hadley for use of the microphone and face paints.
Then, there was Science Day when we did some various Test Tube Adventures including making touchable bubbles and ink disappear.
Confession: Bode was in his PJs all day. Mom score card: science experiments +1; PJs -1.
Last week, I asked Bode to do a few minor things but received no response. Around 1 p.m., I called out to him while he played upstairs.
“Bode, have you done anything I asked you to do today?”
“I made my lunch.”
“That’s good. [But rather self-serving; kid's gotta eat]. Anything else?”
“I remembered to breathe.”
“Nope, didn’t tell you to do that.”
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 