School was out for a mere 23 hours before I started to crack the summer vacation = free child labor whip.
Summer vacation is for sissies.
Sure there will be summer sports practice and volunteering, but that doesn’t mean Monkey Boy and The Girl get to lounge around the house for the rest of the time playing video games, napping and watching movies. Nope.
This summer my teens are going to learn life skills, like how to pour concrete, how to set posts, stain a fence, maintain a garden, paint a house, use a PAPER map, how to navigate an airport alone, plus a ton of other educational stuff.
Sure they may not appreciate this now, but they will.
My hope for this summer is to have them grow a little closer, through the use of teamwork. And, to get a bunch of unfinished projects around here finally completed.
After all, the best things in life are free. Right? Unless of course you want a new pair of Vans. Those, you’ll have to earn. One hole at a time.
Ahhh, summer vacation, it’s finally here.
I can’t wait.
* Be on the look out for a new series titled “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” by Monkey Boy and The Girl Who Thinks She’s a Bird. Not only will it be a great way for the two of them to brush up on their writing skills, but it will probably provide a bit of comic relief around here too.
Jennifer Jo says
This post = proof you are a homeschooling mom.
Mavis says
What? I don’t home school JJ. I’m not tough enough for that. 😉
Jennifer Jo says
What you’re doing this summer—that IS homeschooling. See?
Mavis says
Shhhhhh! Don’t tell Them they are “learning,” they are on vacation.
Jennifer Jo says
Me lipeetos is zipeetos.
MaryBeth says
I can’t wait. My husband is a teacher so I know all about summer vacation 🙂 Only I make him work at the Boys & Girls Club so we don’t drive each other crazy!
Kari says
My teens got to paint the house last summer, with paint brushes :-). They’ll be thrilled to know I’m not the only mom who enjoys child labor. This year they’ll be making a chicken coop. Happy summer!
Jules says
yes!! This year we send the oldest two to ‘Farm Camp’ at my parents’ farm, where they will learn all about weeding, hoeing, growing, and harvesting food. In between their working around the house here of course.
LaToya says
Awesome. My littles are younger but the free child labor is in full effect in our household as well. Can’t wait to see/read their posts and share with my kids on what’s to come – ha!
Leanna Thompson says
I am being a softie. They are taking turns on Mondays doing dinner and laundry.
Tali says
when we took a road trip in a 35ft motor home a few years back my girls (then 8 and 9) got to navigate…..we got this huge American map book (Walmart $5), we learned what all the signs meant and then had them tell us in the morning what is the best way to get to our destination. While on the road we had them identify rest stop…placed to dump our black water (eeekkkk)….it was educational and a life skill.