The Big Summer Question

The sign of a good summer (IMO) is having a clear answer to the question: "What did you do this summer?"

When the summer is a mish-mash, you give a wishy-washy answer. When the summer is memorable and unique it has a clarity to it -- you give a clear answer.

Last summer turned out to be a mish-mash. It was *almost* a clear summer... Vee and Kee got jobs in New Zealand, but we couldn't get the work visas in time so we ended up spending the summer in the bay area with the kids going to camps and me doing the same-old, same-old, all of us doing fun (but random) activities.

I do not want to do another mish-mashy summer.

So, on a purely analytical level, basing decision on cost (since cost drives the decision), here's what we spent last year:

Summer = 10 weeks long
Camp = $250-400 per week, average $325 per week x2 for both kids
Total summer camp cost = $6,500
Weekends usually end up being something special, going horseback riding, tickets to museums and movies... I don't think we have gotten out of a summer weekend for less than $100
Weekend costs x10 weekends = $1,000
Total summer cost $7,500

Aee and I were playing with the numbers yesterday and found out that:
Tickets to Barcelona, Spain = $420 per person round trip
Total plane tix = $1,260
Rent a villa on the beach $170/wk = $1,700
Miscellaneous touristy costs at $100/wk = $1,000
Total summer cost = $3,960

Wow.

Could it possibly be cheaper to spend the summer lounging on the beach in Barcelona than hanging at home? Nearly half the cost?

Hum.

What am I missing?

Here are a few other budgetary factoids:

* Food -- You would think that eating overseas would be a huge line on the budget, but my kids eat light and like to eat in whenever possible. On previous long trips, our food costs have either broken even or been less than if we had stayed home as long as the hotel / villa / flat / apt has a stove.

* Car -- We would have to rent in an area with a bus line or have everything within walking distance. The kiddos are now strong enough to walk nearly everywhere. As long as we're not in a too-terribly isolated place, we can get by without a car. A rare taxi ride is ok. It would probably still be cheaper than the gas we would use at home on "as usual" gas use.

* Work -- My work allows me to go on autopilot, committing about an hour a day to the daily grind then I am available for other things (such as beach time). If I was on the beach in Barcelona, I would have plenty of time to continue work and possibly finish a project that is overdue, but still has promised payment at the end of it. Hum... I wonder (thrilling to the thought) if by some bizarre chance I might actually come out *ahead* when all is said and done...

If you have any advice for me, any words of wisdom or just general feedback, email me at my regular address. I'm still keeping comments closed because I hate moderating, but please do let me know if you have any feedback. It seems a bit odd... but it might work out!

Mom's needs / Kid's needs

I spend far too much time cooking.

But, I like giving my kid's homecooked meals.

I wish my kids had more cooking skills, but they don't seem to be interested in cooking, or helping me cook. They just like to hang out in the kitchen while I am cooking.

I have made the kitchen warm and inviting. Candles. Relaxing music. Happy voices. But helpers disappear quickly. I often feel like the Little Red Hen.

I haven't seen much cooking interest in my kiddos except for Kee who sometimes makes us Belgian waffles on Saturday mornings. Do you know what it is like to wake up to Belgian waffles made by your teenager? It's the best feeling in the world.

Notwithstanding, I still have two problems -- me wanting less kitchen work + kids needing a boost in their kitchen skillz.

Here's my potential solution. I'll let you know how it goes.

Each kid is in charge of dinner one day a week.

Jee -- Tues
Kee -- Wed
Vee -- Thurs
Aee -- Fri

I get Saturdays as usual (and we often eat out, yeah!) and I like cooking on Mondays (one of those cook-ahead-on-busy-day meals). Eee gets Sundays as always and he does a great job.

I tried the new potential solution tonight for the first time. As I explained it to Jee, I could see the resistance building in his eyes. He did not want another chore. So I said, "But, think about it. You'll get to pick whatever you want for dinner."

His eyes lit up and I think we have a deal.

Right now there is chicken & pasta on the stove, cornbread in the oven and a salad will be made closer to dinner time.

Why didn't I think of this sooner? I hope it works.

Follow-up on Knitting & Science

Jee came home from his first class saying:

Mom, when you knit, you have to be really mellow. If you are tense, you hold the yarn too tight. So, relax. Everything's going to be OK. Just go like this... (showing me how to knit)

The next morning when he prepped for school, he put a ball of yarn in his backpack feeding towards the needles in his hands, so he could knit while walking to school.

Aee responded to her Science class like this:

Mom, I LOVE my science teacher. She is so nice. She said that understanding science will help me understand the world. And I love the world. I love science. I love my teacher. (Initiate hug sequence)

Sigh.

It's great when it all works out.

Welcome to the 21st century

It's the start of a new semester for my kids and that means new after-school classes. I just realized that for today Jee (male) is going to Knitting class (and he is So Psyched!) and Aee (female) is going to Science class (she begged & begged for that class over all others).

I worry, for good reason often, that my kids have a too-traditional parent set and that my/Eee's role model will make it harder for my kids in the long-run.

Today's little classes are a bit comforting. There was no talk of "this is for boys/girls" when they picked their afterschool classes. They are pursuing their interests. Period.