The Summer Routine
Being a mom, staying at home, can feel mundane. You are a slave to the stove, snack queen, mediator of the sibling rivalry, etc. Etc.
While I am making pancakes this morning, a moment of I can't believe I'm cooking again overtook me. However we aren't rushing. Eventho i sort of put this burden on myself since we don't eat cereal every morning, the kids eat something fresh everyday! Toast and fruit, leftovers, potato pancakes, etc. Today I am making pancakes from scratch, but we are not rushed, so I can use a skillet, and put a pat of butter before I latle each batch. If course its more time consuming, but ridiculously yummy too!! We are on summer break, why rush? The schedule today calls for some vintage shopping and the beach.
The kids get plates and forks for breakfast, my older son came in the kitchen mid pancake making and started playing the iPad songs. As I finish they are discussing their dreams, Men in Black and Donna Summers "I survive" which is playing, and baby girl was practiceing her ballet spins.
As we eat We will talk about the plan for the day and "make a plan."
Monday was a lazy day, lotsa of sleeping, TV, iPads and reading. We were bums on out first day of summer. I framed some of the kids art from the year and finished younger sons Kindergarten memory book. We ran errands, getting parts for some projects I have at home, hanging a mirror, completing my sons shelves, etc.
Tuesday - we hit the beach. I rock collected, babies built sand castles and older son played soccer... For two hours!
Wednesday we went to Vogelei Park in Hoffman Estates to meet our cousins for the first of many weekly playdates.
I googled splash pads near Elgin, which is where our cousins live. Yelp brought up a long list and there were some fun blog posts. I have a separate post on the park visit with pictures.
The Birds Nest Teachable Moment
{We discussed our cousins moving to their new house, and the 2nd daughter mentioned finding a bird nest. I'm very into teachable moments, so the kids brought this subject to me and I just extended the conversation: I asked her why she thought it was on the ground? Why it had strings in it? And why I put the nest we found in our freezer?
As the kids answer I repeat what they said, incorrect answers are not corrected, instead I keep repeating until someone gives me the right answer. I say "what else" when I want them to keep shooting answers at me. Why all this created conversation?? After a child answers a question, and you say NO or immediately give them the right answer- children assume "guessing" is wrong. But instead guessing answers, even when their incorrect is sheer brilliance at work!! Their little minds are working to FIND a solution, even when they don't know what that solution is. By guessing kids are learning the process of problem solving and critical thinking, in their own little head. As an adult, well its my job to be patient (god that's hard!) and not blurt out the answer.
Sometimes the discussion naturally dies before I get an answer... And that's okay. In this case part of learning is the PROCESS of the conversation, not the answer. When the conversation dies, i let it, and later, even hours or a few days later, I will remind the kids "do you remember when we were talking about the Birds nest, well you never gave me the answer to my question." And I'll fill in an ending to bring closure to what was discussed.
We don't have these conversations every day, but at least once a week something naturally will come up in conversation and I will extend it by asking the kids questions about the object. It's important to know that sometimes I don't even know the answers to the questions that I'm asking, however the kids are still brainstorming and not afraid of questions they don't know the answer to. And mommy often says "i don't know, I'll google it."
Well nearly all the kids had come for a snack and were participating in the convo. I asked their mom secretly if I could frame a birds nest for them to hang in their new home, she said yes, "it could say 'Bless this Nest." And so my next project, due in 2 weeks or so, is born. (Today while shopping in Indy I'll be looking for a deep shadow box and maybe a small elegant bird or fake eggs?}
Afterwards, since it was on our way home, my kids and I went to Ikea for lunch. Its yummy and $2.99 kids meals are well priced for a treat to eat out. I had a shelf part to buy so this trip was 2 for 1. We didn't explore the whole store, instead we just got what we came for.
Thursday - Saturday
Visiting Grandma and the Indiana Dunes. Which includes many beach visits, antique and vintage shopping at the spots we love, buying Saturdays birthday party gift, and eating out!
Insects this week
These fun insect finds were by the kids keen eye! The red aphids near the daisy was at our weekly cousins playdate, the first of the season, at Vogelei Park.
A day later we are in Indiana visiting grandma, and this little caterpillar was enjoying a snack on her perennial. I have not started any soft body collecting, eventho my entomology toolbox gift does have the viles needed, and the gel pen for labels!
We always hit the beach, almost as soon as we arrive in Indy. And my munchkins wanted to climb the big dune (instead of letting my inside voice say "I'm too old for this" I try to change it too "this keeps me young!") we stopped to take pictures when we conquered the summit - okay, we made it to the top.
This milkweed was tall and luscious. Then baby girl spyed the bumble bee, younger son asked if the milkweeds we "stuck?" Nope, just mating.