CAMP MOMMY - The Perfect Toy For Summer 2005

This is so simple, but I guarantee great results almost anywhere, anytime, satisfaction guaranteed: The low-tech, always available, easy-to-share, completely disposable PLASTIC CUP! Almost any size or color will do; we prefer the larger, clear "party cups" in all the different cool neon colors that you buy by the bag at the grocery store.

Again, this was Zach's great idea yesterday, to take a couple of cups down to see what would happen if he put them over the waterspouts (simple physics experiment, yay!)--and those cheap ten-cent cups were the hit of the park! Seriously, with a crowd of at least 100 people, even the grown-ups were getting involved, helping the groups of kids (easy to share!) place the cups correctly and time it so that the waterspout would go off, the cup would shoot up, and everybody cheered and clapped when they managed to achieve the "perfect" launch, and the cup stayed on top of the stream of water. It even stopped all the businesspeople walking by on their way to the bus or train. Very cool.

It does sound too simple to be true, the hours of wonder and joy to be found playing with "trash" in a fountain (we did make sure they were all picked up and thrown away, and we only took three cups, so everybody shared). What's even more amazing, is how we make life so unnecessarily complicated with toys and gadgets and all the STUFF. Go get some cups and give it a try! (They work great as sand diggers at the beach, "golf holes" in the backyard, small fish and tadpole catchers, snack holders, arts and crafts--the list is endless!)

If you would like to comment on this, or any of the CAMP MOMMY blogs, or contribute more ideas for summer vacation survival strategies, please share your thoughts on the blogs, using the Post Comments link, found at the end of the date & time line under the title in every blog entry. We'd love to hear from other Rebel Camp Directors out there!! ;-)

CAMP MOMMY - Test Run #1

A Perfect Afternoon

As I was researching online, getting ready for Camp Mommy!, which officially kicks off Monday, May 23, 2005--

I discovered "Wind Down Wednesdays" at Centennial Park, downtown Atlanta. Centennial Park is a large multi-purpose greenspace in the heart of our urban environment. It was built for the Summer Olympics, which Atlanta hosted in 1996. The world heard a lot about Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park on the news after a bomb went off during a busy evening on July 27, 1996, killing one woman, Alice Hawthorne, 44, and injuring more than 100 others. (For more on the story, a remembrance, and a wonderful tribute to Alice Hawthorne, visit Got My Mind Right!!! Blog.)

One of the many wonderful things at the park is the fountains--a large area of waterspouts in the ground, in the shape of the five intertwined Olympic Rings, where kids can play and cool down on a hot day (plenty of those in Atlanta!). Oh, and it's FREE!

"Wind Down Wednesdays" is a program of live music in the park each Wednesday, from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. Also FREE (love that!).

It was Zach's (oldest, age 10) idea to go down to the park today after school, so we did, arriving at the park about 4:30 p.m. (Centennial Park is about 20 minutes from home, more with traffic.)

It turned out to be a truly perfect afternoon, although not completely FREE, since we did have to pay $7 for parking across the street. We brought snacks and drinks along in a small cooler.

The kids played in the fountains for two hours, and then enjoyed a water "show," with the fountains timed to music--with fake smoke and everything, so that was exciting, even though they had to get out of the fountains while the show was going on. Then it was back to playing in the water with what apparently will be Summer's Hottest Toy--more about that in the next blog!

Daddy met us downtown (about 10 blocks from his office--he had to pay parking, too), and brought dinner from Moe's Tex Mex. We stayed for another two hours, and then had to finally drag the kids away as the sun went down at 8:30 p.m., although Zach was disappointed because there was another "show" scheduled at 9:00 p.m. and he wanted to see the lights. We'll have to stay next time, since it's still technically a school night, even though they are pretty much done for the year. Everybody is sleeping well tonight!

It was the perfect Camp Mommy preview, or test run. The 60 days ahead can't all be so idyllic, but it was a reassuring start.

CAMP MOMMY - The Launch!

Work began yesterday on an ambitious project, which could become my life’s greatest challenge so far: Camp Mommy...surviving the next twelve weeks with all three children home all day, every day on summer vacation.

What to do with these kids all summer?

There are, of course, many options for paid entertainments, from babysitters to nannies to all manner of summer camps and programs. In the past, we’ve done it all: sports camps, art camps, adventure camps, summer preschool, swimming, YMCA activities, and other club memberships--all with varying degrees of success and satisfaction. The very worst thing is to pay $200 for a week of camp that the kid ends up HATING--“been there, done that.”

Camp Mommy is a radical new approach!

Actually spending the summer with my children, full time. Why?

1. To prove it can be done!
2. As I mentioned, all-day camps are expensive (sleep-away camps, much more so). Two hundred dollars is a general average, and that is for one child, for one week. I have three children, and twelve weeks of summer: $600 x 10 (we can all handle two weeks, right?) = $6000. I would much rather spend time, and the money, with my children; and this summer, quite frankly, I don’t have the luxury of any other option!
3. This is the summer of our transition, with the house for sale, and the pending move. We still don’t know now, in June, where we are going to be, or when; we had no idea back in January, when registration opens up each year, and camps fill up in the first days, if not hours, for the more popular programs.
4. And finally, with my three children ages five, eight, and ten, this is the last summer we have before all three are off to school full time in August (Kindergarten, 3rd & 5th grades)--my babies are growing up so quickly!

I remember when I used to think summer vacation was a good thing: time, freedom, and good weather! I still look forward to summer, but I find myself, now as the Mom, in the last days before school is out, rushing around like a condemned woman, trying to get in as much as possible in the time I have left.

As a kid, I remember the long, lazy days of summer, biking, exploring the neighborhood with friends, playing by the creek in the woods, swimming, spending time at my grandparent’s house...My mother, a single parent, worked full time, so I remember babysitters, my grandparents, my older half-brother and half-sister, friends and neighbors, and then being on my own as I got older. The best part of summer, and the best memories I have are not how or when I was entertained, but simply the freedom I enjoyed, and the easy pleasure of timeless and unscheduled days. That’s what I want to give my children.

Times are different now, and we live in an urban environment very different from the much smaller towns I grew up in. Unfortunately, I can’t let my children roam the way I could. The challenge is in finding a balance between roaming, freeform entertainment (which usually results in too much TV), and over-organization, too much structure--“all camped up,” as we like to say. There must be a happy medium.

The decision, for us this year: Camp Mommy!

The strategy: A summer financial education adventure. We’ve decided, the kids and I, that we are going to explore all the fun we can find in Atlanta, and within driving distance, at low cost or FREE. We are planning and organizing together, and we’ve got a budget: $100/week for our activities Monday thru Friday, including lunches, snacks, and activities. If we save money one week, packing picnics and going swimming or to the park for free, we can spend more on a big activity the next week, like going to White Water or Six Flags. It’s already been a great learning experience, getting the kids involved and talking about the concepts of saving, budgeting, and spending.

Beyond the financial education (which is important), Camp Mommy will be a great experience in learning how to get along better, and in helping out within our family. Mommy can't do it all!

The adventure began yesterday, with Internet research on Google search term: summer activities kids Atlanta. We came up with all kinds of stuff, including dozens of neighborhood and city parks, swimming pool schedules, bike trails, camping information, special events, and FREE summer movies, too! (For the third year in a row, see Regal Cinemas Free Family Film Festival--in a theatre near you!).

Confession, from the Camp Mommy Journal, Tuesday, May 10, 2005:
I am nervous about Camp Mommy...

I’m feeling much better now--only two days of school left! And I will, of course, let you know how it goes all summer...

The Rebel Housewife - Camp Mommy! Resource List:

1. Your Local Newspaper – Check the weekly entertainment guide or online for Event Listings for Children or Family.
   Atlanta Reference: The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
   
   
2. Your Local Parenting Magazine – A free monthly magazine with all kinds of event and activity listings and calendars, usually available at schools, churches, and stores (Toys R Us). Also online.
   Atlanta Reference: Atlanta Parent Magazine. (Try a Google search for “parent magazine” with the name of your city.)
   
   
3. Check out this terrific online resource with all kinds of great information on local events and activities for kids in 15 different cities, including Atlanta: http://www.atlantakids.net.
   A listing of the other city guides available is under Resources on the Atlanta Kids site, or click here to visit the parent company website.
   
   
4. FamilyFun Magazine from Disney Online is another fantastic resource for general information and summer survival strategies. There is a ton of great information available in the magazine and online. Here are some treasures I found on the FamilyFun website: Fun Stuff for the Car.
   (Download the “Games-on-the-Go Activity Pack” and the “Backseat Boredom Busters” – they are really cool!)
   
   

   Books:

   
   
5. Summer Fun! 60 Activities for a Kid-Perfect Summer
   Williamson Kids Can! Series
   By Susan Williamson
   (Williamson Publishing Company, April 1, 1999)
   
   
6. Kids Camp! Activities for the Backyard or Wilderness
   by Laurie Carlson & Judith Dammel
   Chicago Review Press, March 1, 1995)
   
   
7. Family Fun Super Snacks:
   125 Quick Snacks That Are Fun to Make and to Eat
   by Deanna F. Cook
   (Disney Editions, June 1, 2004)
   
   
8. Family Fun Fast Family Dinners:
   100 Wholesome Kid-Friendly Recipes Your Family Will Love
   by Deanna F. Cook
   (Disney Editions, June 1, 2004)
   
   
   (They are going to learn to cook this summer, too!)