Frederick

When I was a kid, I spent my summers doing nothing. My only responsibility was making sure that my chores were complete before my mother got home from work. Otherwise, I spent my time reading comic books, riding my bike, and watching TV.

By contrast, my children have very regimented summers. Over the next three months, my kids will go to various camps (Girl Scout, Tae Kwon Do, Science, Baseball), participate in the YMCA basketball league, and go to Vacation Bible school at our church. In addition, my wife will hold “summer school” during the day to make sure that they remain academically sharp.

Although my kids will be busy this summer, they have it pretty easy compared to some of their peers. One of my wife’s friends actually made a spreadsheet to monitor and track her kids’ summer activities. Her kids are scheduled every minute from June through August.

While we believe that keeping the kids active will combat boredom and allow them to experience new things, we also understand the importance of giving them some time to enjoy the summer without any obligations.

I see nothing wrong with allowing them to have some time to veg out and relax. That’s why my wife and I are committed to making sure that the kids have time to enjoy the summer on their own terms.

I want them to do all the things kids enjoy doing - ride their bikes, go swimming,  play in the park, play video games, watch cartoons, text with their friends. These things are as important to their personal development as any of the academic activities that we’ve planned for them.

We also like to go on a family vacation during the summer. This year, two trips have been scheduled – camping at Yogi Bear Park and touring San Diego. We like to go camping because we appreciate outdoor activities.  Living in a big city sometimes makes it difficult to appreciate the beauty of nature. Our annual camping trip allows us to get away from the hustle and bustle and spend a few days peacefully enjoying nature and each other. In San Diego, we intend to be beach bums. We may visit the zoo or go to Lego Land, but our main objective is relaxation.

Summertime is a season where lasting memories are made. My kids will probably forget the scheduled activities, but I hope that they will always remember the times we spent together as a family.

For more musings from Frederick, visit www.mochadad.com/.