What do your kids do in the summer?

[cakemama579]

Hi all,

After continuous thought and debating in my mind, I'm on the verge of dropping out of my nursing program. I committed to staying in the program until clinicals started (not feeling the excited "bug" that other students seem to have), and since they've started I'm more unhappy than I think I ever have been in my life.

One of my dilemmas is trying to figure out what to do with my 3 year old this summer and on Christmas vacations if I end up working? I won't have the option of having summers off as I do now in school. (believe it or not, this is one of the biggest factors keeping me IN school right now).

What do other mamas do with their children in the summer time? DS is currently enrolled in a preschool, but it is over in May.

Thanks!

[Ceinwen]

A mix of daycare, summer camps, my kid sisters, my gf, my mom and vacation time w/their dad (my ex). It's a jumble, but it's a fun summer.

I'm a nurse btw, and having to work holidays can be brutal (I had to work last Christmas) but it's all worth it in the end.

[CatsCradle]

I'm not sure where you live, OP, but in New York (and especially NYC), there are a limitless number of summer day camps available. DD's Montessori school has a daycamp and she has gone there for the past two summers (she's in pre-K). She has loved it because it is not like the regular school year - they take trips, they swim, they do all sorts of fun activities and cook-outs.

Like many summer day camps in NYC, the camp starts the week after school lets out and goes through the first week of August. DD is generally off for a month between camp and the fall school session. DH and I plan our vacation time around this and split the time between us.

I know too that many public schools in the area also have summer camps.

[Alyantavid]

In the past, they've mostly stayed home with dh, having mil come in help as needed. My 4 year old is in daycare though. Next summer, I have no idea. Dh will be off doing clinicals, my 8 year old will be out for the summer and I'm undecided as to whether I should keep my 4 year old in his current daycare or do something else.

Here, we do have the Boys and Girls Club that runs a summer program. But I'm personally, not terribly comfortable with that. So I've got no advice, but I'm in the same boat.

[Rani]

Summer day camps and one year, I hired the assistance teacher from pre-school to nanny for us. She and my dd were very close and she loved the idea of spending the summer with her. She didn't charge me much at all.

[lyterae]

We do a mix of daycare and preschool, preschool keeps the standard school schedule and daycare covers thier closings (holidays, summers,etc).

[bluebunny]

We cobble together care from my mom, niece, sister, and babysitter. I don't know where you live but I have found that it is harder to find day camps and programs for preschoolers (2,3,4 year olds) than elementary school age. Around here for preschoolers, there is full-day, full-time daycare (expensive) or part-time "camps" that are a few hours in the mornings two or three days a week. It is definitely tough.

One option that I have considered, and might try for next summer, is to hire a college student for the summer. Another option is to hire a school teacher who has the summers off.

[Ellien C]

Originally Posted by cakemama579

Hi all,
One of my dilemmas is trying to figure out what to do with my 3 year old this summer and on Christmas vacations if I end up working? I won't have the option of having summers off as I do now in school. (believe it or not, this is one of the biggest factors keeping me IN school right now).

When you work, will the pre-school cover your hours or will you need day care? If you need day care it will likely go all summer long. The harder thing for me is cobbling together camps for when school is out. My day care goes all year long. You can also look to hire one of the pre-school teachers perhaps as Nanny share with other kids in the pre-school. You won't be the only one in that situation.