We are taking a break from the heavier topics today. Back Friday with more lessons learned from the crazy year.
Summer is sneaking up on us. Most moms will be looking for a solution to the childcare problem every summer. Your children are out of school and full time care is expensive!!!!
My mother was a stay at home mom when we were young. However, she had six children....yep, SIX! Four boys and two girls.....very ACTIVE kids! During the summer, although she was home, she needed us to be somewhere just to keep us out of trouble and offer a healthy break for herself.
There were four major churches in our small town and we attended at least three of the Vacation Bible School weeks most summers. Great idea! We went to a Methodist VBS, a Baptist VBS and a Free Will Living Baptist VBS one summer. It was great - both for mom and for us!
During my daughter's youngest years, I lived in an area where we happened upon two other mothers with daughters. The three of us took turns taking the kids for the day and often overnight. The mother in charge would take the kids to the children's museum, swimming, play games and more. The children had a blast and one mom got a day off.
When my child was about eight years old, I found myself with the summer child care dilemma. I was single mom and could not afford to leave the workforce every summer. My mother's plan worked for me and offered a great value for my budget. I sent my daughter to as many weeks of VBS within a five mile radius as I could locate.
I also sent her to several overnight Christian camps as well. These camps were less costly than full time childcare and an opportunity to grow and mature. It was also an opportunity for me to grow as a parent and as a woman. I learned to let go and I learned to enjoy my time off. This is a very healthy thing.
For non-believers, there are lots of other camps out there. You will find one your child has a natural interest in or is curious about - camps exist today for computer dudes even. Google is a beautiful thing - information at your fingertips! Search for summer camps.
If the expense of overnight camp is daunting, as it was for me, I want you to know we sold candy at my office to cover the cost. You can host car washes, "rent a kid and parent" work days, and more. Use your imagination. Nothing is impossible.
This may not work for every mom, but it sure worked for my mother and for me under extremely different circumstances.
(c) 2011 Daphne Keys
Summer is sneaking up on us. Most moms will be looking for a solution to the childcare problem every summer. Your children are out of school and full time care is expensive!!!!
My mother was a stay at home mom when we were young. However, she had six children....yep, SIX! Four boys and two girls.....very ACTIVE kids! During the summer, although she was home, she needed us to be somewhere just to keep us out of trouble and offer a healthy break for herself.
There were four major churches in our small town and we attended at least three of the Vacation Bible School weeks most summers. Great idea! We went to a Methodist VBS, a Baptist VBS and a Free Will Living Baptist VBS one summer. It was great - both for mom and for us!
During my daughter's youngest years, I lived in an area where we happened upon two other mothers with daughters. The three of us took turns taking the kids for the day and often overnight. The mother in charge would take the kids to the children's museum, swimming, play games and more. The children had a blast and one mom got a day off.
When my child was about eight years old, I found myself with the summer child care dilemma. I was single mom and could not afford to leave the workforce every summer. My mother's plan worked for me and offered a great value for my budget. I sent my daughter to as many weeks of VBS within a five mile radius as I could locate.
I also sent her to several overnight Christian camps as well. These camps were less costly than full time childcare and an opportunity to grow and mature. It was also an opportunity for me to grow as a parent and as a woman. I learned to let go and I learned to enjoy my time off. This is a very healthy thing.
For non-believers, there are lots of other camps out there. You will find one your child has a natural interest in or is curious about - camps exist today for computer dudes even. Google is a beautiful thing - information at your fingertips! Search for summer camps.
If the expense of overnight camp is daunting, as it was for me, I want you to know we sold candy at my office to cover the cost. You can host car washes, "rent a kid and parent" work days, and more. Use your imagination. Nothing is impossible.
This may not work for every mom, but it sure worked for my mother and for me under extremely different circumstances.
(c) 2011 Daphne Keys
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