(yes, these are my boys, and yes, they both caught those impressive walleye)
It’s summer camp season; that glorious time of year when many children enjoy fun activities at sleep-away camp. Camp week doesn’t have to mean fun only for the kids, however. If planned properly, even the most loving, dedicated parents can take advantage of time alone without their spawn to relax, rejuvenate, and refresh inexpensively. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Spend money like you still have some: Have fun for a week imagining that you still have money and that you didn’t already spend it all on their diapers, dentistry, driving mishaps, and college education. Enjoy that feeling of a crisp twenty in your pocket, which, unfortunately, is all that remains of your savings account. Feel free to splurge on that new toilet bowl brush or underwear you’ve been coveting. Go ahead. Live it up. You deserve it.
- Have sex: Remember what it used to be like to have sex without thinking about it? Those of you with multiple kids, do you even remember sex at all? Nah, neither do I. Still, for a week, we can all pretend that we’re couples once again. This time, don’t forget the condoms. Remember what happened the last time you did? Right. You just dropped Surprise Child off at summer camp.
- Clean the house: I know, I know...no way is house cleaning fun, but hear me out. Doing it while the kids are away means that you can actually clean the house and it will stay that way for longer than the usual five minutes. Better take pictures. A week isn’t very long, but waiting a whole year until the next week without children certainly is.
- Invite people over: You might as well scratch a few of those obligatory payback-invites from your To-Do list while the house is clean. Just think: you can clean the house today and invite people over two days from nowwithout having to re-clean it. You’re trembling with excitement at the thought of it, aren’t you? I know; I had the exact same reaction!
- Get rid of all of their annoying toys: You know that loud pinball machine from Aunt Frances that registers a 5 on the Richter scale or that obnoxious stuffed dog that barks as if it’s possessed? Yard Sale ‘em while the kids are gone! It’s the perfect time to reclaim your peace and quiet. By the time the kids realize they’re missing, you can honestly answer, “Those things? I haven’t seen them in ages.”
- Play all of the music that you love but which the kids consider embarrassing. No one’s home to roll their eyes while you enjoy your favorite tunes, so break out those old vinyl albums and CDs. Hopefully they haven’t all melted into plastic soup from being stored in the attic.
- Have a Sock-Pitching Party! Throw out all of their dirty socks and buy new ones. You deserve a break from dealing with laundry, especially the smelly, nasty kind that’s part of having children. Enjoy that feeling of satisfaction knowing that your home won’t smell like a locker room for one whole week.
- Hog the Wii. You know you want to, so go ahead. Play Wii Sports all you want. Have a bowling marathon. Practice your fastball. Work to earn the top scores so that once the kids get home, they’ll be so busy trying to beat your score that they won’t dare utter the dreaded b-word (bored) for at least an hour or two.
- Try not to miss them too much. Even though they’re stinky, messy, expensive, and loud, they do kind of grow on you after a while. Thankfully, it’s only a week and they’ll be home soon (with laundry.)
Comments
Have fun!
NO :-)
My 21 year old daughter is ADHD. She does well without her meds now, but when she was a young child, she was like lightning during an electrical storm - everywhere. I don't mean a little overly active, I mean bouncing off the walls and along with ADHD, kids often exibit other curious behavioral oddities - hers is OCD.
She collected rocks and sticks. When I would clean the Jeep out after our hikes in Durango, I would throw rocks that were stuffed in the door pockets, cup holders, console, seats and everywhere else she could find.
It was strange. A month later, she would ask where the rocks were and she'd become quite perterbed when I repsonded "I threw them out." We now have boxes, upon boxes of ROCKS stored in the garage. The movers loved us when we moved nto our house.
Laurel - Bwahaha! I like your version better.
Emma - You are not terrible at all. I break out the wine and chick flicks when my husband goes away. Enjoy your week!
Mr. Mustard - I have a hard time remembering that there used to be coitus without the interruptis.
Boomer Bob - Looks like you've got plenty of company!
Mrs. Michaels - You're right - I forgot about the food, although not just the kind but the quantity. My kids have been gone since Sunday and there's still a gallon of milk in the fridge. Normally it's gone in 36 hours.
Have an actual uninterrupted conversation
Eat without having to cut anybody else's meat
Drink to excess
Dance naked
Find a new hiding place for the sex toys
Oh, and don't ditch those dirty socks. Save them for when they're grown and in their own place, so you can tuck them in between the couch cushions to surprise them when you visit.
Man this made me smile until my face cracked.....
Great Lisa!!
Great post - wishing you a fantastic week.
And I’m w/Annette in admiring your boys and their amazing catch. Frankly, it’s impressive that they’re holding the fish, let alone that they caught them.
Soak up the quiet.
Go out to breakfast, or just read the funnies uninterrupted.
Be glad to see them when they come home. =o)
Ah, now I know where my drum set went.
Roger - That Wii is awfully tempting, isn't it?
Nora - If they're not too old, you should consider summer camp. It's a parental vacation, too. Thanks for the kind words. XOXO
Roy - Thank you for 'getting it.' :)
High Lonesome - We just did this last night! I love Diet Dr. Pepper but the kids always drink it all. I only ever getting one or two out of a case. We bought a case last night and hid it in the garage fridge. I should be able to have at least three of them before the kids come home.
Annette - Thanks. The fish are amazing, aren't they? The older boy was 9 and the little one was 5 when they caught them. It's one of my favorite photos.
LandP - You're describing my week! I do miss them, but a break from being a 24/7 mom is a nice treat.
Michael - You know it! To heck with doing the items on this list in order. :)
David - Thanks! Right after that picture was snapped, the little one dropped his fish. It's hard to believe but that was the first fish he'd ever caught. Go big or go home, I guess!
Shiral - I forgot to list the sleeping-in part, but I've been doing it. Thank you for stopping by. :)
Cindy - I know! As they get older, you see less of them, but more of their friends. It feels like I'm gaining children as mine grow, even though the oldest is gone more.
JK - Too funny! It would make things a lot more interesting if Wii had a sex option and then Roger wouldn't have to choose.
Mr. E - Uh-oh. I've let the secret of mothers everywhere slip out. There's going to be consequences for this, I'm afraid.
Steve - Right...I'm sure they do.
Sourie - XOXO!
Pamela - I don't know about making hay but rolling in it sure sounds nice. :)
Will keep the necessity of sleepaway camp on my list for when I do have kids.
When my kids are gone, I throw away so much of their stuff that I probably should call the dumpster place to come drop an industrial size container on the front lawn! I'm sure our garbage man needs 3 months of physical therapy after hauling that crap into the back of his truck~!
Great post Lisa! But seriously ... nowhere do I see "Get drunk and listen to Pink Floyd" ...
3 to go.
Ann - Getting drunk and listening to Pink Floyd works any time. You should try it.
deepcleav - It's well-worth the marathon shopping and packing excursions to get them properly outfitted and sent-off. Maybe next year?
Owl - Uh-oh...you weren't hoping to send him to my place, were you?
Greg - 33 years?! Oh my. I feel guilty complaining about 19 years. You, sir, deserve a medal. And a vacation. Not necessarily in that order.
Nicely, done.
Lisa - Mine have been gone five days and I miss them. They come home tomorrow. :)
* Have a Sock-Pitching Party AND * Invite people over (you never know what kind of kinky activities could follow) Then, * Clean the house (while recovering from the hangover) and * Get rid of all of their annoying toys (only be distracted by) * Hog(ging) the Wii. (You’ll be so busy that neither of you will )* Try not to miss them too much.
Hehehe
RATED!
Tricia - I can tell you've done this before. :)
Lady Miko - Bwahaha! Now that's what I call multi-tasking!
mamoore - I feel for you if you're the one in charge of making them shower (a bunch of kids + hot summer weather = more stink than the laundry basket.) Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to the mountain o'stink, I mean, laundry that just came home with my kids.
mamoore - I hear you about the shoes. I've actually thrown my kids' shoes out because the stench is so bad. Febreeze and Odoreaters are no match for shoes that have walked in a creek and then been worn without socks for an entire week. :)
Umbrella - I'm glad to see you here! Sadly, my kid vacation is over. It was fun while it lasted.