Summer is looming…..I mean coming!  These Summer Bridge Activities books are perfect if you are interested in having your kids do “just a little” this summer to keep their brains nimble. [And appropriately torture them.]

They bridge the months from one grade to another-spanning from entering kindergarteners through entering 8th graders.  They are organized to have your sweeties do one page (front and back) each day.  There is an excellent mix of grade-specific exercises in language, reading, and math.  Science, social studies, and extension activities are also included.  The pages are colorful and non-repetitive, so the kids “kinda” like them.  We have used them the past two summers with moderate success. Because let’s be honest, no child wants to do any kind of school work while on summer break.

You can see sample pages on the summer bridge activities website.  The books themselves can be ordered from through their website, on amazon, or purchased at teacher supply stores. 

Bring on summer [learning]!

I seriously think Tina Fey is genius.  I have previously used a passage from her book, Bossypants, as inspiration for a post.  Today I return to this side splitter with a few of Tina’s ideas for carving out “me time” in your day.  “Me time”?  Those 5 minutes every mom is looking for to collect her thoughts, breathe deeply, and pee all by herself.

Tina advises:

• Go to the bathroom a lot.
• Take ninety-minute showers. (If you only shower every three or four days, it will be easier to get away with this.)
• Stand over the sink and eat the rest of your child’s dinner while he or she pulls at your pant leg asking for it back.  
• “Sleep when your baby sleeps.”  Everyone knows this classic tip, but I say why stop there?  Scream when your baby screams.  Take Benadryl when your baby takes Benadryl.  And walk around pantless when your baby walks around pantless.

I adore her take on motherhood.  Hilarious, with a touch of realism and self-deprecation.  She and I are kindred spirits.   If only I lived in Manhattan-I do believe we could be the best of friends. 

 

Want the real deal?  Motherhood isn’t always pretty and it ‘aint for the faint of heart.  I wanted to end the week with a list from what I’ll call real life motherhood. [Please note this is not a glamorized mommy blog written for people.com that gushes about the true gifts my children are and how mothering has only made me a more complete human.]

Real moms:

• drive their kids to school in their pajamas without brushing their hair or teeth
•  yell
• switch their kids lunches in the mad dash out the door and are bitter when they have to “fix” the f*#^ up.
•  need to drink wine (insert alcoholic beverage of choice) to do homework with their children.
• are exhausted by 9am
• buy syrup for a class party which contains high fructose corn syrup [gasp.]
• wonder daily how any of their children will turn out “normal”.

These statements are all taken from true stories told by real moms.  Or they are all about me.
Remember, we are all in this together.

I giggled when I read this article about Elle MacPherson and her panache for dressing as the “ever always” super model to grab her kids from school.  Check her out!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2031743/The-Elle-effect-Two-thirds-mothers-dress-school-run.html

Seriously?

While I did not splash out for a new ensemble or a new hair style, I did up my game a bit today.  A shower was required.  Well, at least for the first day of school.   I established a rule for myself that the first day warranted a little effort on my part.  Hey, I even put on a little mascara this morning.  That is probably the best I have got.  For the next 179 days you will find me in work out gear or sweats at drop off.  Heck, if I am being brutally honest- on dark, dreary days in the doldrums of January it might even be my pj’s.  (That is when you say a little prayer that your car doesn’t break down and you are stranded on the side of the road as everyone you know drives past!) 

Here is to a great school year and to never getting caught in your pjs!

This is a post that many, many moms have asked me to write.  Now seems like the perfect time!

Sunday marks the beginning of a new era for us.  Our first soccer jamboree.  A real team, with a real jersey, and real games.  (Up to this point it has just been micro soccer with a scrimmage.)  This is also usually means the creation of the snack calendar.  You know what I am speaking of, right?  Each family chooses a game in which they will provide snack for the entire team (and usually siblings).  Just like the dreaded goodie bag (see my previous post the goodie bag dilemma), this has gotten out of control!

Gone are the days when a family provided orange slices and water for half time.  Oh, no.  The snacks are usually consumed after the game, so it can be pretty much anything.  Some mothers freak over the nutritional value and spend precious time trying to provide a kid friendly snack that is healthy.  Others totally cave to their little angels and buy cookies, cupcakes, or doughnuts.  Don’t get me wrong.   I love a good cookie, but do our kids really need a reward for spending an hour playing a game with their friends? Or if you are more like me, you forget until 15 minutes before game time and have to stop at the store and grab the first thing that catches your eye. 

Once the calendar is created it is like an ominous cloud hanging overhead.  Is it our snack day?  With so many children with allergies (some very serious) you must make sure that everyone can safely eat your snack.  Do you also provide drinks with your snack?  How many siblings will be at the game?  Small children dissolve quickly into tears if they aren’t also treated to a snack.  The hassle goes on and on.  It is hard enough to have a clean uniform and to get to the game on time.  Must we cause ourselves another headache?

I already know I am not the only one who feels this way.  BUT, who will be the one that says anything?  (Probably no one!)  Maybe I should suggest this season we follow the trend of many pro teams wearing a “throw back” jersey.  We should serve “throw back” snacks.  Oranges and water for all!  Not a totally elimination of snack, but a step in the right direction.

oh, the dog days of August.  Although the days are not sweltering, the summer is, sadly, coming to an end.  With just over 2 weeks of break left, I find myself smack dab in the middle of Camp Mommy.  What is this exciting camp you ask?  Let me explain.

My kids have no, I repeat NO, planned activities this week. So, I have dubbed it Camp Mommy and the boys think it is the greatest thing.  They are completely in charge of our week.

Here are the rules:

1. They have been given a budget for the week. 
2. They may choose any local activity but every cost must come out of their budget.
3. Any food or drink ( or treats!) purchased during the day must also come out their budget.
4. There must be at least 1 hour of physical activity each day.  This could include bike riding, swimming, a hike…..anything that gets them moving and burns some calories.
5. They have to read at least 20 minutes each day. 

With Day 1 under our belts, it is off to a great start.  I will recap our week on Friday.  How are all of you surviving the last unstructured days of summer?