Summer at home—how would your teen feel?
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Anonymous
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DD14 won’t be attending her summer camp this year for the very first time, because of driver’s training and two planned family trips. I’m a teacher and typically work during the summer, but I’m considering not working this summer and instead having one last “summer” with my teen before she gets a job, hopefully, sometime next year.
I thought it might be fun to have slow mornings and late nights, doing things we don’t normally get to do in the summer because I’m usually at work. I’d also be home to take DD and her friends and drop them at the pool or wherever else they want to go. DH is also a teacher and has a very relaxed schedule in the summer months, so we will have the opportunity to do spontaneous things. Is this too much? Am I romanticizing this idea, or do you think it would be enjoyable for everyone involved? |
Anonymous
| Sounds amazing. I don’t understand your hesitation. |
Anonymous
| Sounds nice! |
Anonymous
I worry I’m romanticizing the idea and in the end, it’ll be too much togetherness for a teen. She is still at the age where she enjoys our company, and I don’t want to challenge that! |
Anonymous
| Talk it over with your teen. My teen at that age found a part time job because they didn’t want to be bored, but otherwise was free like you are describing. It was the perfect balance. |
Anonymous
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I’d just manage your expectations (sounds like you would) that it will be flexible and your teen likely wont want to spend every moment with you- but it sounds great and what we’ve done for summer. I highly recommend.
Also- give it some time at the beginning of summer to adjust. It takes some time to shift off school schedule and on to a summer one. She may have some trouble doing so/ and she needs time to get bored, be bored and come up with things to do. These are good conversations to have closer to summer or at the beginning. Just to normalize. |
Anonymous
You don’t have to be together all the time just because you’re not working. You’ll both have more freedom to do stuff independently. |
Anonymous
I think if you don’t force the togetherness and recognize you will spend a lot of time taking your kid to the pool, friends’ houses, etc., it sounds like a great plan. My DDs will be 14 this summer and would love if our work schedule allowed for this kind of summer. They also know this is likely their last summer with no other obligations. |
Anonymous
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Sounds great!
This is how my kids’ summers were every year until around 15/16. Usually they had a little something with structure (sports camp or conditioning, a fun summer class or whatever) at some point- but other than that, just hung out. |
Anonymous
| Sounds lovely. I can just imagine laying at the pool with a book. |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
| I would absolutely do it. My kid is 15 and I WFH with a flexible schedule. Last year, he liked that I could drop him and his friends places that weren't Metro-accessible. |
Anonymous
| My 14 year old would love this. Just keep your expectations low, and expect the regular amount of sarcasm and teenage stuff, lol |
Anonymous
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I stay home and this is what we've always done. If this is novel to you, I'd say: don't expect too much. Have a leisurely schedule. It will be really hot out: you can have a list of Smithsonian museums and other indoor things, keeping mind that popular museums are packed in the afternoon, and schedule your outdoor pooltime just right to get either a shady spot, or less oppressive sun (evening). If your kid has friends that also have free time, then expect that they will want to hang out without you. Is all that worth the hit to your summer income? I would say yes, but only you can decide.
Also, gas will become quite expensive. |
Anonymous
Take a chill pill. Have some home stuff planned also - like konmaring your closets and selling unwanted stuff on FB marketplace. Declutter and organize. Also, have a family talk so everyone has some relaxing plans, some travelling plans, some personal goals(work on back muscles) and some learning goals. You may take time to teach your kids 2-3 recipes. |