All posts tagged: summer

SleepAway Camp: A Stepping Stone for Independence & Responsibility?

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Summer. I find myself wanting to re-create my idyllic childhood summers for my children. Isn’t that human nature, parenting nature, perhaps pure Mother Nature that drives us to re-create for our children what was good in our childhoods, while also adding in what we didn’t have? I always wanted to go to summer camp, sleepaway camp to be exact. My husband too. Whether it was financial restraints, or just not on our parents’ radar, sleepaway camp wasn’t part of the summer recipe. It’s not that I’m complaining. I was blessed with the perfect childhood summers. I spent weeks at the Jersey shore, time in Pennsylvania with grandparents, aunts, uncles & cousins, all while spending my everyday summer time in my then hometown in Connecticut. Mornings were spent at swim lessons, followed by the library, and then long, hot, lazy afternoons at the pool. Capped by neighborhood nighttime fun of Kick-the-Can, Witch’s Hour, Spud . . . catching a few of the hundreds of fireflies . . . which later transformed themselves into a temporary lantern …

SleepAway Camp: A Stepping Stone for Independence & Responsibility?

Published by

Summer. I find myself wanting to re-create my idyllic childhood summers for my children. Isn’t that human nature, parenting nature, perhaps pure Mother Nature that drives us to re-create for our children what was good in our childhoods, while also adding in what we didn’t have? I always wanted to go to summer camp, sleepaway camp to be exact. My husband too. Whether it was financial restraints, or just not on our parents’ radar, sleepaway camp wasn’t part of the summer recipe. It’s not that I’m complaining. I was blessed with the perfect childhood summers. I spent weeks at the Jersey shore, time in Pennsylvania with grandparents, aunts, uncles & cousins, all while spending my everyday summer time in my then hometown in Connecticut. Mornings were spent at swim lessons, followed by the library, and then long, hot, lazy afternoons at the pool. Capped by neighborhood nighttime fun of Kick-the-Can, Witch’s Hour, Spud . . . catching a few of the hundreds of fireflies . . . which later transformed themselves into a temporary lantern …

Vacation. Unplugged.

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We turned off our electronics this week — and totally unplugged — on vacation — at the Jersey shore. We took the causeway to the Seven Mile Island of the quiet yet engaging towns of Stone Harbor and Avalon, New Jersey.  We parked the car.  And didn’t get back in all week.   We biked to the beach, we biked for ice cream, we biked for those delectable crab cakes.  We unplugged – all week – from it all. Even mom and dad.  Unplugged from the cell phone, from email, from texting. It was the best week we ever had. I don’t know about you and yours, but our kids have become sucked in (to electronics, that is).  As with anything that sucks us in, it’s a little alarming to give it up.  I say alarming because it was like an alarm went off when my husband and I said we were turning IT ALL OFF on our vacation for the week.  Wow.  What a wake up call – it was like a jolt went through their bodies.  …

Making It a Great Summer (by guest blogger, Deneitra Hutchinson)

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I recently participated in a fantastic Twitter chat hosted by children’s author Terri Trenchard and life & wellness coach Trisha Chason. Everyone participating had one goal in mind: making this a productive and positive summer for the entire family. Here, in my opinion, is the best of that conversation. Be sure to add your favorite summer tips in the comment section below. With the end of the school year, comes summer break. Will summer be like a Country Time lemonade commercial or a time of planned activities — or both? As parents, our youthful days of summer have long passed. We played all day with friends and family. We spent the day in the woods, exploring. When we stayed home, we read until our heads hurt. We made-up games, rode bikes, and visited each other’s homes. But what about our children? What do they want? CHALLENGE 1: Ask your child to describe a healthy, summer day. Do they want regular “chill” activities or do they want BIG, ELABORATE plans? How much is enough…one weekday, and one …

Who Loves Summer?

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I do.  Absolutely.  Best time of the year.  That’s why . . . well . . . my blog’s just a little light these summer days.  I like it the good ‘ole fashioned way:  lemonade stands, long days at the pool, late bedtimes cuz the fireflies are still out, hopscotch followed by vanilla custard and chocolate jimmies.  Not to mention the beach.  Pure grace.  The waves come in, the waves go out.  And no one, not a one, is ever the same.  Pure grace. Sand castles, riding the waves, drip castles.  Gotta love those sand buckets, filled with water, making the highest drip castle ever.  Bike rides, the smell of sunscreen, the scent of bug spray.  Even the occasional mosquito bug itch.  And the smell of summer grass, freshly clipped, in the heat of the summer night.  So forgive me if I’m not bloggin’ . . . but I’m on a little hiatus, with the kids, the sand, the sidewalk chalk, the summer sun.  Like every year, it sifts right through our hands. Catch it …

The End of The Everything Season

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It’s like a second holiday season, this end-of-the-school-and-dance-and-soccer-and-drama-and-band-and-did-I-mention-everything-else season.  There are gifts to buy, multiple performances to attend, graduation cards to mail, checks to write, side dishes to take, oh and by the way, who’s dropping off for try-outs tonight.  We’re already gearing up for next season, you know.  It’s ALL GOOD, but it IS BUSY.  Don’t kid yourself.  Like a second holiday season.  Without the stoppage for the holiday.  Oh yeah, there is a stoppage.  A rather big one.  Called Summer.   I almost forgot . . . as my buzzer goes off . . . and I grab the gift . . . and sign the (where is that card?)  Oh, here.  Under the camp schedule. Ah, the camp schedule.  Now that sounds and feels nice.  The holiday is coming.  I can feel it.  Can’t I? It’s coming, alright.  Keep Calm.  Carry On.  Eat Chocolate.  Whatever It Takes.  And for some ideas on how to make it a great summer, join us.  June 11, 12-1 (EDT).  Twitter.  Stay Tuned.