Anonymous
Post 06/27/2015 22:24     Subject: My 6yo is a nightmare after camp
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for these young kids having to spend their summerslike this. Such a pressure cooker of workaholic parents forcing constant structure on these kids who should be outside playing with friends, using their imagination, hanging out with parents, looking up at the clouds, riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Now they go to all day camps, year round sports, tutors, and more. Childhood is gone.


Are you old? It might surprise you that housing costs and college costs have risen tremendously, much faster than wages. It's not as feasible for most families to get by on one income as it used to be.


Not the PP but why do you think all that has risen while wages have not? Because some women wanted to work and all of sudden someone (Mom or Dad) staying home wasn't good enough. So instead of the normal one income household from forever until 1980's went to a normal two-income household. And college was all of a sudden mandatory and trade schools or blue collar jobs were considered not good enough. So now we have money-hungry college-loving families thinking specialized sports, McMansions, elite schools, tutors, piano lessons, chauffeuring globs of kids daily in their new SUV and spending all summer with extreme swim teams is normal life. And daily $5 coffees and $100 month gym memberships and $200 monthly electronic service bills are the norm too. And that designer bag and work attire.

So if you want to work, fine. But cry me a river on the MUST work to survive attitude. Women wanted to work. They chose two-income households to be the norm in good ole USA.


And this is all women's fault? Jesus. You are a piece of work.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2015 21:32     Subject: My 6yo is a nightmare after camp
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for these young kids having to spend their summerslike this. Such a pressure cooker of workaholic parents forcing constant structure on these kids who should be outside playing with friends, using their imagination, hanging out with parents, looking up at the clouds, riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Now they go to all day camps, year round sports, tutors, and more. Childhood is gone.


Are you old? It might surprise you that housing costs and college costs have risen tremendously, much faster than wages. It's not as feasible for most families to get by on one income as it used to be.


Not the PP but why do you think all that has risen while wages have not? Because some women wanted to work and all of sudden someone (Mom or Dad) staying home wasn't good enough. So instead of the normal one income household from forever until 1980's went to a normal two-income household. And college was all of a sudden mandatory and trade schools or blue collar jobs were considered not good enough. So now we have money-hungry college-loving families thinking specialized sports, McMansions, elite schools, tutors, piano lessons, chauffeuring globs of kids daily in their new SUV and spending all summer with extreme swim teams is normal life. And daily $5 coffees and $100 month gym memberships and $200 monthly electronic service bills are the norm too. And that designer bag and work attire.

So if you want to work, fine. But cry me a river on the MUST work to survive attitude. Women wanted to work. They chose two-income households to be the norm in good ole USA.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2015 20:49     Subject: Re:My 6yo is a nightmare after camp
These lazy summer days you talk about were possible only the past 50 years or so, and only among well-to-do families. Everyone else was working. Summer camp is not a soulless prison.


ITA. My family was lower middle class, and my summers involved sitting at my grandmother's unairconditioned apartment watching TV all day long while my parents worked. Maybe twice a week she would take me to the park for a little bit. I wish I could have gone to summer camp.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2015 20:45     Subject: My 6yo is a nightmare after camp
For most of history kids have done hard labor since the age of around six. These lazy summer days you talk about were possible only the past 50 years or so, and only among well-to-do families. Everyone else was working. Summer camp is not a soulless prison.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2015 19:57     Subject: My 6yo is a nightmare after camp
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for these young kids having to spend their summerslike this. Such a pressure cooker of workaholic parents forcing constant structure on these kids who should be outside playing with friends, using their imagination, hanging out with parents, looking up at the clouds, riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Now they go to all day camps, year round sports, tutors, and more. Childhood is gone.


OP here, and I agree with you but most of us are not workaholics. We work. Period.


First, I'd say, have a little compassion and imagine how the child feels. 6 is too young for all day camp, imo. Even at 8, my DD is wasted at the end of an all day camp. outside doing stuff in the heat. Plus, camps are not very relaxed. They're constantly herding them around. Not a fun way to spend the whole summer.

I'd look for an alternative: get a college or HS kid to run the kid to half day camps here/there all summer. Then, they can spend the other half hanging out or going to the pool. That's what we did and it was a good fit.


I appreciate the alternative that you provided. But how dare you tell me to have compassion for my kid. Of course I do. I know that she is exhausted. I know it, and i raid as much upfront. I would rather her be able to bum around all summer like I did in the 70s. But that model is not feasible. We live in the city and i have not seen a half day camp available for rising first graders. This is the model,my kids have two working parents, I pick them up two afternoons a week and an after school sitter does the other days.

We do what we can within life constraints. And we have to live with the consequences. But guess what? I get exasperated sometimes with it all. Life is a constant juggling act before you even through in the pressure of "having more compassion" or "your kid can't back the life you are leading" judgment that parents get thrown your way when you open you mouth and admit that life isn't perfect and, in fact, is downright fucking messy.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2015 19:23     Subject: My 6yo is a nightmare after camp
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for these young kids having to spend their summerslike this. Such a pressure cooker of workaholic parents forcing constant structure on these kids who should be outside playing with friends, using their imagination, hanging out with parents, looking up at the clouds, riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Now they go to all day camps, year round sports, tutors, and more. Childhood is gone.


Hideous judgemental person you are.


The first PP also happens to be correct, imo. It's not judging. I know parents are trying to do what's best. But, unfortunately, kids don't get the same relaxed summers we had as a kid. And, it's sad.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2015 19:22     Subject: My 6yo is a nightmare after camp
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for these young kids having to spend their summerslike this. Such a pressure cooker of workaholic parents forcing constant structure on these kids who should be outside playing with friends, using their imagination, hanging out with parents, looking up at the clouds, riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Now they go to all day camps, year round sports, tutors, and more. Childhood is gone.


OP here, and I agree with you but most of us are not workaholics. We work. Period.


First, I'd say, have a little compassion and imagine how the child feels. 6 is too young for all day camp, imo. Even at 8, my DD is wasted at the end of an all day camp. outside doing stuff in the heat. Plus, camps are not very relaxed. They're constantly herding them around. Not a fun way to spend the whole summer.

I'd look for an alternative: get a college or HS kid to run the kid to half day camps here/there all summer. Then, they can spend the other half hanging out or going to the pool. That's what we did and it was a good fit.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2015 18:01     Subject: My 6yo is a nightmare after camp
I try to pick up 5 yo DS early the first few weeks of camp. I can usually adjust my schedule for a few weeks. I do the same thing when school starts in the fall.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2015 17:42     Subject: My 6yo is a nightmare after camp
Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for these young kids having to spend their summerslike this. Such a pressure cooker of workaholic parents forcing constant structure on these kids who should be outside playing with friends, using their imagination, hanging out with parents, looking up at the clouds, riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Now they go to all day camps, year round sports, tutors, and more. Childhood is gone.


Hideous judgemental person you are.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2015 16:43     Subject: My 6yo is a nightmare after camp
Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for these young kids having to spend their summerslike this. Such a pressure cooker of workaholic parents forcing constant structure on these kids who should be outside playing with friends, using their imagination, hanging out with parents, looking up at the clouds, riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Now they go to all day camps, year round sports, tutors, and more. Childhood is gone.


Are you old? It might surprise you that housing costs and college costs have risen tremendously, much faster than wages. It's not as feasible for most families to get by on one income as it used to be.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2015 16:42     Subject: My 6yo is a nightmare after camp
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for these young kids having to spend their summerslike this. Such a pressure cooker of workaholic parents forcing constant structure on these kids who should be outside playing with friends, using their imagination, hanging out with parents, looking up at the clouds, riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Now they go to all day camps, year round sports, tutors, and more. Childhood is gone.


OP here, and I agree with you but most of us are not workaholics. We work. Period.


Yeah really. Do you want to pay for my kids to go to college? No? Then I guess I will have to keep working. But OP I pick my kids up at 3 (part time job) and my 6yo needs a good hour after we get home of quiet self- directed time. She usually draws and writes. My 4 yo is great and then has epic tantrums starting around 430. It's been quite a week.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2015 16:11     Subject: Re:My 6yo is a nightmare after camp
I feel bad for these young kids having to spend their summerslike this. Such a pressure cooker of workaholic parents forcing constant structure on these kids who should be outside playing with friends, using their imagination, hanging out with parents, looking up at the clouds, riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Now they go to all day camps, year round sports, tutors, and more. Childhood is gone.


Want to pay my bills for me so I can stay home with my kid? Great. If not, STFU.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2015 15:23     Subject: My 6yo is a nightmare after camp
Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for these young kids having to spend their summerslike this. Such a pressure cooker of workaholic parents forcing constant structure on these kids who should be outside playing with friends, using their imagination, hanging out with parents, looking up at the clouds, riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Now they go to all day camps, year round sports, tutors, and more. Childhood is gone.


OP here, and I agree with you but most of us are not workaholics. We work. Period.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2015 15:18     Subject: My 6yo is a nightmare after camp
I feel bad for these young kids having to spend their summerslike this. Such a pressure cooker of workaholic parents forcing constant structure on these kids who should be outside playing with friends, using their imagination, hanging out with parents, looking up at the clouds, riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Now they go to all day camps, year round sports, tutors, and more. Childhood is gone.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2015 14:14     Subject: My 6yo is a nightmare after camp
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know that she is hungry and tried. But holy hell. I telework 2 days a week so that I can pick up my kids from camp and spend some time with them...but the way she acted today makes me want to run to the office for cover.


Because 6 is too young to go to all day camp but it sounds like you don't want to parent much so you are going to get a cranky kid. Sounds like you need a nanny to help with the cranky hours so you can go run to your office.


Get off, DCUM, and go parent your own kid.