WFMW: Mom, I'm Bored Edition

Once again we are sharing what works for us over on Shannon's Rocks in My Dryer Works For Me Wednesday and thankfully right now my air conditioning is working for starters.:)

This week I have 2 items to share - one that might be of help to you, no matter where you live and the second that may be most helpful to those in North Texas.

Helpful Hint Number 1:

If you are like me and have young children, the prospect of the entire summer looming ahead may seem somewhat daunting at times, causing your eyes to glaze over and you to start muttering small obscenities in a foreign tongue (we would not want the kids to pick up on them in their native language, now would we?;). Well chicky, shake off the mild terror because I have the solution: Hire a local pre-teen.

Yes, you too can hire your very own handy helper. In my case, my handy helper will be coming swimming with us as managing all 3 ages 6 and under seems a bit overwhelming. This way, we can go swimming (it's free, it's wet, it's cool, and it tires them out - woohoo!) a couple of times a week. Now, why a preteen? Well, they are often available where an actual teen has about a million other social engagements, they are affordable (you can pay them a portion of what you would pay them if they were watching the kids without you there) and they will usually be happy to play with your kids. I have done this previously where they play with my kids so I can get some work done or have time for that long neglected project or craft and been very pleased with the results.

Some of you may say, "Well, I already have a built in preteen and that never works very well for me." Of course not. You are the Mom and you want them to help you with siblings...not even close to the same thing as an employer/employee relationship. Perhaps those of you with a preteen could swap preteens with another Mom and have the desired results.

Either way, give it a try. You might discover that those errands where you just do not have enough hands or time at the park or pool or even at home become loads less stressful and a ton more fun when you get a little Preteen Power to help!

Helpful Hint #2:

I mentioned earlier this week that my two older girls are at camp this week. To be precise, they are at the YMCA-run Collin County Adventure Day Camp and they are having a ball! They go from 8am to 4:30 M-F rain or shine and each session is $180. That covers all activities and food while there. The activities are really amazing too - Monday and Tuesday alone, they have been swimming, made candles, gone fishing, gone rock climbing, played games, learned songs, heard stories, done some art projects and then some. Friday is Family Day and we are invited to come up and see what they have been up to while there.

Similar in content to Camp Grady Spruce that the Plano kids have long visited through school, I imagine that the Collin County Adventure Camp is where our kids from Anna will go for their 5th grade science campout thingy (can you tell I have heard of it but never experienced it so the details are a bit sketchy;)). One of the wonderful things for us is that it is actually located wight here in Anna...but you would never know it. When you are there, you would think you are a million miles away. The drive out there is beautiful...it is just outside the town of Westminster, about 10 minutes from our house.:)

The counselors are all nice young adults who have all been certified in CPR and 1st Aid. They are all High School Grads, have had over 60 hours of special pre-training from the Y and are well screen and tested. They are really kind and enthusiastic and my girls love them. In fact the best thing about the entire thing is how much my girls love it...I have never seen them both come home so tired and so happy. They sleep like logs and then cannot wait to go back in the mornings.

I strongly encourage all North Tx Moms to consider sending their kids for a week to Collin County Adventure Day Camp . It has most certainly worked for me!!

Go read about tons more summertime boredom busters at Rocks in My Dryer. I’ll meet ya there!

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