Spring break isn’t time off for the parents

By By Michelle Blaylock, Mom’s Corner
If you have children in school, you probably already know next week is Spring Break. I have had several people ask me what we are doing over spring break. My answer is usually, “Survive!” I mean that in half seriousness. I have to admit that in some ways it was easier when our children were younger. They were quite satisfied to just play, make up their own games, and generally just have time to do what they want. As our children have gotten older, it is a little harder to entertain them sometimes because they want to do things that take greater amounts of time or things that cost a lot more money. I have found anytime our children are not in school it is a good idea for me to have a basic idea of what we are going to do each day.
When the children were younger, I planned things like craft days, play dates in the park, etc. Now that they are older they still enjoy those things except now instead of just supplying “stuff” to make pictures they want to actually make something like sewing pillows, or making friendship bracelets, or latch hooking a rug. “Play dates” are now things like sleepovers or going to the movies.
Nevertheless, I find it a good idea to have a plan of what we are going to do each day. One thing that is very nice about the kids being older is that they can help more around the house during spring break. (Wait! Did you hear that? It was a collective groan of my children.) I do have plans for them to help with some spring cleaning over our break. Since our weekends are typically taken up with various activities — usually sports and church, it is very hard to get things done around the house. I usually make a deal with the kids, if you get this, this and this done then we will do such and such.
Of course, there has to be limits. There are ways to reduce expenditures and still have a good time. For example, want to see a movie? Go to a matinee, they are usually several dollars cheaper or order the movie on pay-per-view. If you are going to a theater eat before you go to avoid the expensive snacks at the movies. Likewise, it is usually cheaper to do things like roller skating and ice skating in the afternoon instead of the evenings.
Is your child interested in sewing? Look for fabric remnants where you buy fabric. The remnants are almost always marked down.. I am always on the lookout for inexpensive craft supplies and kits to use when we need them. (Like during spring break when the kids are driving me crazy!)
I am not saying I schedule every minute of every day of Spring Break. I just try have a general idea of what I need to get done and what I can reward the kids with when they get done. For example, Monday – clean gutters, clean main floor windows, wipe all baseboards on main floor, and clean mini-blinds and curtains – reward – order a movie on pay-per-view and pop popcorn; Tuesday – clean upstairs windows, mini-blinds, upstairs hallway, and wipe baseboards upstairs – reward – go bowling; Wednesday – clean downstairs windows, downstairs hallway, and wipe baseboards – reward free time; Thursday – vacuum and shampoo carpet, go through toys and clothes, bag up what does not fit, is not wanted, and/or do not play with any more – reward – have a friend over; Friday – pick up sticks or whatever else is in yard that does not belong, weed around bushes, get garden ready for planting – reward – play games and make pizza; Saturday -worked hard all week take the day off for fun. Of course, some of things are subject to weather. Also, what I want to get done and what gets done are two different things. If I see the kids are honestly trying then I will usually reward them in someway. However, if they are just dawdling around then I will not reward them. (I know I’m a mean Mommy!)
We have had Spring Breaks where everyone sits at home and nobody gets any rewards, because the children will not do what is asked of them. They love to tell me, “But Mom, it’s our ‘break’ we shouldn’t have to work!” and I say, “Well, when Dad comes home from work he still has to do things and after I substitute teach at school I still have to come home and do things. You will have to do things at your home after you grow up, too, so just get used to it.” (I know, I know, I’m so mean!!) Most of my children are old enough to leave at home alone. Therefore, if I have one that is not being cooperative, I have been known to exclude them from a reward and leave them at home alone. When the children were younger I would wait for John and then the uncooperative child would have to stay home with one parent while the other parent took the rest of the family and enjoyed a reward.
However, always remember just because you have “plans” does not mean they will happen, sometimes you just have to kind of “go with the flow.” One Spring Break that vividly comes to mind is when John moved to Alabama and I had to stay in Kentucky until we sold our house. He left on the Sunday of our Spring Break. We had six children ages four months old up to fourteen years old. I had originally been thinking the kids and I would do a few things around the house, maybe play some games, rent a few movies, do a couple crafts and overall just take it easy.
Our “Spring Break” began Monday with our fifteen passenger van having a flat tire. Tuesday evening our 12-year-old son caught his finger in a folding stepladder and cut off the tip of this finger breaking the bone. Wednesday we ended up in the pediatrician’s office, because it was still bleeding even after being reattached. By Thursday morning when I woke up, I was really hoping Spring Break would hurry up and be over. Thursday our oldest daughter woke up with one her worst migraines, probably brought on by the stress of the week. I spent most of the day trying to make sure the other five children did not disturb her.
On Friday I’m thinking, “Thank heavens this week is almost over!” However, it was not over yet. The baby, who had been fussy all week, started crying in earnest and pulling at his ears. Yes, he had a terrible ear infection. We went to the pediatrician’s office — again. Needless to say, none of my “plans” for that Spring Break happened and I was very happy when John came in for the weekend!
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