Budgets are tight in households across the nation and many families are choosing to spend vacation dollars at home.  Simple vacations and day trips (or Staycations as they’ve been dubbed in the media) are replacing more elaborate ones.  In some cases, fancy summer camps have been nixed altogether to compensate for rising gasoline prices and soaring grocery costs.  As a result, women across the country are waking up to the sobering fact that this summer:  Mom is the Camp Counselor.  “What are we doing today Mom?” “Mom, I’m bored.” “There’s nothing to do here.”  Bla, Bla, Bla.

Sound familiar?   Don’t let the inmates run the asylum.  It’s game plan time.  Here are some suggested activities…

For a more affordable vacation, plan a camping trip to a nearby beach, river or state park.  (Five stars don’t make memories, Moms do.)  Pack a bag full of costume accessories and have a family skit night. Divide into teams or just let the kids plan out an entire show and entertain you! 

Set up camp in your own backyard for a late night movie on the lawn.  Roll a TV out on the grass, set up sleeping bags, stick the kids in their pajamas and pass out the popcorn! Don’t forget the glow sticks and mosquito repellant!  

 

On an unbearably hot day, head over to the local library.  You may hear some groans from the kids, but once you get there just try getting them to leave! Let them apply for their own library cards, choose their own books, videos and dvds and let the summertime reading begin.

 

Check into a hotel in your own town and let the kids enjoy elevator races, swimming, kids day camps, sports courts, late night Jacuzzis and any other of the hotel’s amenities that we’re usually too busy to enjoy when we travel out of town. 

 

My family’s favorite luxury is to hang out in the hotel room, buy a movie and order room service – forget the amusement park outside the window.  Oh, is that why we came here?!

For more satirical fun and parenting tips with a twist, check out Nicole’s blog www.LifeOfARockStar.net 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 16th, 2008 at 11:51 pm and is filed under Crib Rock Parenting Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.