Summer Enrichment My Ass
Dear WTMs,
I have used mild profanity in the title of the this blog post. This should alert you all to the possibility that I am going on a rant in today's blog post. Please exit the blog post immediately if you have a problem with my rants and if you possibly have a problem with some very low grade profanity (like the word ASS). With that disclaimer out of the way, please read on.
The topic today is the SUMMER ENRICHMENT of my precious children. I am on this topic as I am getting phone calls from various mothers (muffia AND non-muffia) and summer lesson providers about summer activities.
White Trash Readers: Did YOUR mom give a rat's ass about what you did for the summer? Because I will tell you right now, that my mom did not. I can remember getting some tennis lessons and had some art lessons. The rest of every summer I can remember from my childhood was spent messing around with my friends, riding my bike and going to the pool.
- I did not take summer enrichment seminars
- I did not have daily lessons with expensive instructors on how to do UNDERWATER BASKETWEAVING
- I did not have a list of daily, scheduled activities for my summer vacation
posted by queen of wt at 5/09/2006 06:41:00 PM
20 Comments:
I am 100% with you on this one. We spent our summers like yours, or just playing around the back yard, climbing trees, building forts under the picnic table, etc.
It's a sad situation that kids are so scheduled that they aren't given a chance to use their imagination and just have fun being a kid.
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
Now, my Dad did work our little brains for an hour or so 4 days a week and taught us all kinds of really cool stuff during our summers as kids. And, he also took us to do some cool "outdoorsy" stuff, and to the library once a week. However, it was all within reason and NOTHING like to kids of today. I can tell you right now that my kids are going to enjoy a lazy, hazy summer! I plan to enjoy it with them!
BTW - when I stumbled on your blog and read your archives,I was afraid I had been blogging in my sleep! GO WTMs!!!
The thing I loved about summer vacations was that I *didn't* have all kinds of things to do. Maybe some intense TV watching, a little laying out in the sun with Crisco slathered on (yeah, we actually did that), the occasional weeklong camp or art class, and LOTS of trips to the library, but that was pretty much it. AND I did most of that without adult supervision since both my parents worked. That sort of thing would get your kids taken away in a heartbeat these days.
While I recognize the need for kids not to put their brains to sleep over the break, I still think they need (and deserve) a break. My 11 year old has (self-selected) activities almost every day of the school year. I have no problem with her having a little down time.
Now, if only I could get a little of that...
Both of my duel personalities (teacher and mom) HIGHLY suggest DOWN TIME for ALL kids during the summer! You have to give them a chance to learn how to teach, and entertain, THEMSELVES, lest they grow up to be one of those annoying adults that have no imagination or sense of humor.
On a side note, I think that's the first time I've actually used the word "lest" in a sentence.
Actually, it sounds like you've STILL got a nice amount of stuff going for the kiddos. They'll still have free time to plot what nursing home they'll throw you in some day, at what age you'll be and how they'll ignore/irritate you in your old age. :-)
I agree too. Overbooking your kids only leads to stressed out kids, not ENRICHED kids! Those parents who do the overbooking crap- I think they either thrive on pandemonium and craziness, or they are just trying to impress everyone else by how much they can do and get done by the kids. "ooooh, Johnny takes violin? Well my Mikey takes expert piano, advanced impressionist art, and Latin." Oh boy. Congratulations, you have one bored kid.
I am also with you on this WTM. We have some neighborhood swim team - more about playing cards in the bullpen and eating junk with your friends - than about swimming and some team tennis. That's it. Sleep in, play until dark, go to the lake, hang with friends. The older one works so his summer is a little different now but not so for little sis.
I have the good fortune of being a stay at home mom and we can do this very relaxed schedule. It would be different if I was working.
This practice of course started with the families where both parents work outside of the home. It was glorified daycare at the beginning.
Then parents started figuring out that for a bit more money they could get some good creds on their kids CVs to get them into their college of choice.
Or maybe it was those providers of said occupations that convinced them of this.
I hear ya WTM. While I have no kids of my own to over-schedule, I fondly remember my summers. The whole family would roll out to the lake and STAY there. We could walk into town (2 hour hike) if we got really bored, but with swimming, hiking, waterskiing, kayaking, camping, sailing, picknicking, reading and generally lazing in the sun, who had time to be bored?
I had one week a summer where I was shipped off to camp, but other than that, activities were mostly spur of the moment. I cannot think there was any better way to have spent my childhood.
Thanks for all the comments WTMs! I am glad to know I am not alone in my quest for my kids to having a boring and "non-enriching" summer!
PS to Dr G-WTMs are of all colors, shapes and sizes. WT has less to do with trailer parks and more to do with an attitude of non-conformity with the "muffia" drones! And you get INSTANT cred for listening to either of the two greatest music genres--COUNTRY or WESTERN. You're in.
Well, my ass too *L*. If you homeschool your kid you get to deal with this crap all year round, not just for the summer. Why does my 7 year old need karate lessons, dance lessons, 4-H and Girl Scouts to be considered enriched? She doesn't enjoy sports or sweating, why should I force her to play? Why does she have to learn the pack mentality at 7?
We do little things to keep us thinking, but neither mom nor kid is way into organized activity. I want a bumper sticker that says "My Kid Is"
Ooh!! I think I want one of those bumper stickers too! That's brilliant!
I'm not scheduling "enrichment" activities for my (almost) 10 yr old either. He's got cub scout camp and to be honest, that's IT. And why shouldn't it be? He's doing fine at school, he works hard during the school year and has an insane schedule 9 months of the year. Summer is for being a KID. He's got the rest of his life to be stressed out and overscheduled.
I'm with you all the way. In our area, we have year-round schooling (school begins the first week of August, ends the last week of May, with two-week fall, Christmas, and spring breaks). The kids have 8 weeks of summer.
I was listening to two Muffia yesterday discuss their children's summer schedule yesterday and it made me want to cry. One of the moms was very proud that she'd scheduled at least two activities per day for the entire eight weeks.
I'll consider it a successful summer for my 2 and 6 year old if they get messy enough every day to 1) require at least one complete change of clothes and 2) a scrubdown in the wading pool before they come back in the house.
AMEN sister!!!!!!
I opted out of the summer camp that has more than tripled in the last 3 years. We have a pool. We have a big backyard. We have 5 million toys. We're going to use them instead of letting them collect dust like the rest of the year.
I totally agree with you. Summer is for playing outside, and spending it in the car going from activity to activity sounds awful. My kids will do a week with grandparents, and they'll start soccer in late August. Other than that, our days will be filled with popsicle stains, running through the sprinklers, and catching bugs.
I am pretty sure summer enrichment was yet another idea from the evil muffia. One local muffia here tends to favor golf camp for her seven year old daughter and a slew of camp and swimming activities and of course EVERY vacation bible school at EVERY church! My own little WT kids are lucky to get a swimming lesson and a VBS or two! Other than that--it's "you have a back yard and a game room--go play!"
Hey Y'all -
I'm a faithful WTM, but unfortunately, my oldest does have a summer schedule just because I have to skip the sunshine and get my tan via light bulbs. Don't judge me, and please know I wish my kids could play kid the can and rollerskate until dinner, and paying $175 a week so he can find find frogs in the creek isn't my idea of bliss.. but, alas and alak, the paycheck calls.
Hugs and kisses to my WT sisters!
Response to our WT Sister Kathy B's post-I hear you and I too must get my "tan" at certain times in the summer from the wonderful office. Let me just be clear that my rants were centered on those moms that enroll their kids in stuff so that it can be another example of how perfect the family is. The people I was pissy about most definately do not get their tans via office lightbulbs---but it makes me pause and think a bit. Anyway, just wanted to be clear AND wanted to tell you your post made me think a little (no small thing, I assure you).
I think the reason why so many kids have ADHD today is because of over-scheduling. What ever happened to letting your kids have the summer off? Sheesh. Your kids wont become brain dead just because they play in the comfort of their own backyard for a change. Heaven forbid. Down with the Muffia! :O)
You are preaching to the choir - I am so right there with you!
Which totally makes me the biggest freak in my mid-town neighborhood filled with granola-making yoga mommies (whose kids are scheduled to the hilt!).
It is possible to live in a Big City and be proudly WT!
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