One idea I heard about is to do a summer camp co-op with other like minded parents. Are there any parents in your area who would be willing to do an exchange of days with you? They take your kids for a day of activities on your work days, and you take their kids on your off days so that they can work or have time off. You could use this as a cost saver and to break up their summer routine a bit. In fact, the summer day camp I am sending my son to this year, started out this way about 30 years ago.
I have four kids, three who attend private school, and are now teenagers, thank goodnesss! The cost of summer almost exceeds private school tuition every year. I have worked outside the home, full-time since my kids were little. My summers historically have involved, spreadsheets, calendars and countless summer brochurers for camp. I have done it all...Girl Scout/Boy Scout camp, city programs, outdoor day camps, sleep-away camp, sports camps, summer school. It is not easy, and does not get easier as they get older and their interests change, it just get's more expensive. This summer, I will have two entering high school, so they will be taking summer school at their prospective high schools, one is a rising senior in high school and will be traveling for a month to Colombia with family members, and my 7 year-old, is attending 7 long weeks of outdoor day camp. I am adjusting my work hours so his camp day won't be so long. Good luck!
Thank you for your review. My 7 year-old son can't stop talking about this movie. He thinks he is going to the midnight showing with his dad, a comic book hero geek himself. It doesn't help that my son has three teenaged siblings who I took to see the midnight showing of Hunger Games. He will not be seeing this movie at midnight, but I have no doubt my husband, and possibly me, will take him to see the movie the weekend. Unfortunately, the violence is disturbing, but he has been exposed to so much of it already due to some of the shows he sees my teens watching. We try to put it in context by speaking to him about the violence and he seems to understand it's all make-believe.
I don't get this. I bought steel cut oats today and want to try it but don't want to get another crockpot since I have two bigger crock pots and don't need a third smaller one. How do I cook the oats in a bowl in a crockpot filled with water?
First of all, Happy Birthday! My brother's birthday is also today. This year he turned 50!! Every year he approaches his birthday with the same anxiety and build-up. The thing is my brother loves to go out on New Years and he always complains that his birth date stinks. The whole re-gifting, no one around for parties--it's the same thing you experience. I feel a bit bad for him, but really, every year since he get's this way--isn't it time to get over it? I know i sound harsh, especially since this year he turned the big 5-0. Two years ago he got the best gift ever. He thought he was turning 49 and my husband did the math for him and gave him back an extra year! Last year, when he actually turned 49 my wonderful sister-in-law began stressing about all the expectations of his next birthday/New Year's Eve. She finally came up with something she thought he'd like and last night we went to one of their favorite spots in the OC and surprised him with a gathering of close friends and family. It was nice, and he enjoyed it, but of course, there were quite a few people missing because they were out of town for the holidays.
Thanks for an informative post. I bought Mars candies this year. Baby steps. (I heart Twix bars) Since we have A LOT of trick or treaters in our neighborhood I will also buy the Mike and Ike candies. I also announced to my coffee loving husband that from now on we are only buying Fair Trade coffee.
Wow! That's a big list. I like the variety of whimsical and serious. Somethings very do-able, and somethings seem like good goals to reach for. i am glad it's a life list since you are young and will have time to do it all. I made up my own list of things I want to do before my 50th birthday. I was making good progress but it's been a bit derailed lately. I hope I can get back to it soon. Here's my list:
http://lifewellblended.wordpress.com/about/50-bef...
What timing. I just got a call from my future sister-in-law who asked me if my 7 year-od son could be a last minute ring bearer replacement for her October 1st wedding. It seems my future SIL's sister and her kids, a boy and girl, aren't coming to the wedding after all. The bride is understandably upset. I am happy to have my son stand-in but alas, no girls on this side of the family. The flower girl dress is purchased, size 4T. No flower girl. It would have been perfect except that they are getting married in Arizona. Will India take her show on the road?
Beautiful post. I think what you said gives me so much more of an understanding about the pain and loss that birth mothers must go through. I think we all romanticize the idea of adoption and tend to think of an unwanted child getting a better life with through adoption. Your story personalized the birth mothers in the picture. And while I think society does at times characterize those birth mothers as generous because they give another family the opportunity to become parents, your story really hit home the idea that you and others like you are not only generous, but you are grieving. You carry a loss with you and you not only deserve our gratitude, but our compassion. Thank you for sharing.
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