DC Femella

Before the sunset, the kids play in the sand

Originally uploaded by joaobambu

I am currently trying to figure out what I’m going to do with the kids in the summer. It’s strange to me now that I am in the school-aged phase that it’s a huge deal what summer camps you choose for you kids. Every mother I speak to always adds “And what summer camps are you putting your children in?”

I know that Cebastian is going to an overnight camp for a week, and Isabelle might go to the one at her school. We might go to Italy (or definitely, a public beach). However, after that, i am pretty much clueless. The problem lies on how much these camps want. The cheapest camp is $340 a week. Let’s do the math:

$340 * 2 (kids) * 4 (weeks) = $2,720 a month

This is close to $3000 because this doesn’t include supplies and activity fees they love to add to this number. Also, my ex isn’t the type to really help. I can just see that conversation:

“Eric, I probably need a little extra for the kids’ summer camps.”

“Ummm…I give you child support, so sorry, take it from there.”

My coworker says that our neighborhood has a half-day summer camp that has tennis, pool, and walking on nature trails. However, I am pretty uncomfortable paying lifeguards to watch my kids until I get home. They are watching everyone else, so what happens if they miss my kid? I don’t know…maybe I am paranoid. I think if all else fails, the kids will go to Isabelle’s school, which is Cebstian’s old school.

I want my children to have a fun summer, but do I really have to pay this money for them to have fun? These summer camps know that working parents need to place their kids in something, so they are upping that price like crazy to kind of screw us. I really don’t know what people are living paycheck-to-paycheck do.

For school-aged parents out there, what are you doing with the kids this summer?

The “trying to get out of school” excuses have begun.  Last week, the kids had two days off because of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Inauguration.  This week, Cebastian had two Teacher’s Work Days plus a snow day.  Even though school was two hours delayed, today was the first day of school in what seemed like forever.  I woke Isabelle up first.

“Good morning!”

“Mommmyyyy, my ear hurts too bad,” she wailed.

After hearing this excuse and falling for it two times already, I was not about to make it a third.

“Nice try, but get up.  Your ear does not hurt.”

She stopped, huffed, and replied, “Ok.”

I headed to wake Cebastian up.

“Morning!”

“Mommy, can you call my teacher and tell her that I am too sick to go to school.”

“How are you sick?”

“I’m coughing too much,” he said.  He forced himself to cough twice and looked at me like he had fooled me.

“If you are sick, then I guess you will be in your bed and just staying there for the rest of the day.  No TV, no games, nothing.”

He thought about it for a minute.  “Fine, I will go feed Haji.”

I don’t know how my mom dealt with three girls without going insane.  I remember all the excuses I used so I wouldn’t go to school.  It has now made me somewhat of an expert in dealing with my own children and their attempts to play hooky.  They can’t beat the Master.  Been there, done that.

After going grocery shopping, Cebastian, who doesn’t have school for two days due to parent/teacher conferences, and I went to his teacher conference. She said he is excelling at school, and that his behavior is getting better. I was pleasantly surprised. He was waiting outside the classroom for me. He asked me how he was doing?

I said, “Cebastian, you are doing amazing in school, and Ms. Seidel says you are doing better with your behavior.”

His response? “Mom? Don’t you feel sorry that you doubted me.”

I started laughing, and I said, “Sorry Cebastian, I shouldn’t have doubted you.”

He said, “That’s ok mom, I forgive you.”

Hahahahahaha….Crazy kid.

I received the call a parent dreads…..the Principal.  After speaking with her, it seems that Cebastian, who told me he was finally behaving, hasn’t been.  I wish it would have happened before my spin class because I was more frustrated than ever.  She was very pleasant and said that Cebastian seemed to understand what he did wrong.  I had to smile at that because she doesn’t know how strong-willed Cebastian can be.  She said not to punish him because she had already spoken with him.  Maybe she heard it in my voice that I was not going to let this fly quietly.

While Isabelle practiced soccer, he sat next to me dreamingly staring at the playground.  When we got home, he did his homework, read, and went to his room.  I got an email from the teacher, and it took me 30 minutes to respond.  

My ex says that I am too strict on the kids, and so when they go to school, they misbehave.  It makes me wonder.  Am I too harsh on the kids?  I mean, this is coming from the guy who only sees them four days out of the month, and barely calls or is involved more than he has to be.  I still had to wonder if I am.  

I watch “Nanny 911” and “Supernanny.”  I also read tons of parenting books.  How can I control what he does in school if he behaves one way at home and another at school?  I will try though.  

I already let him know that a. I will have lunch with him every day until he starts behaving and b. He will not open his presents until he behaves for a week straight. 

Too harsh?  Maybe, but he will have to deal with it.

The kids’ first day went well.  The only thing is that I get a call from Cebastian’s child care provider indicating that he was not on the bus.  He gets on a different bus in the mornings because it’s the earliest bus in the neighborhood, so I can take Isabelle to school.  She said that he thinks he got on that one.  All these scenarios started running through my head.  I picked Isabelle up, and then started searching the neighborhood.  I called the school, and they said that no kids had been dropped off at school, but they would  notify me.  After 20 minutes, I called back again.  They said no buses had returned.  Five minutes later they call me and say that Cebastian was there.  I was hyperventilating and crying, so I had to calm down before I entered the school.  There he was waiting for me.  I asked the Assistant Principal what happened cause he had a huge label on his shirt indicating the bus he was suppose to get on, and also I filled out a form during the open house that indicated that as well.  She said that he told them another bus number.  I knew there was no point of pressing the issue because I was already in a horrible mood, and I am not the most calm speaker when I am.

I grilled Cebastian 1,000 times about what bus he is suppose to get on, I wrote his teacher an email and a note, and I told the bus driver in the morning that he is suppose to get on another bus.  On top of that, I filled out another form last night indicating that in the mornings, he gets on bus #7, and after school, he gets on bus #13.  If he gets on the wrong bus, I will not take it lightly.

I feel kind of bad because Isabelle’s first day got overshadowed due to the bus fiasco.  Today I will focus on her, so she feels and remembers that she is important as well.