Summer is almost here!

It has felt like summer around here for a long time.  Heck, we live in SW Florida.  It has been in the 80's for a few months now.

But school is almost out for both of my kids!  Ahhhh.... true summer, right?  My son finished school this last week.  And my daughter finishes this week.

But now comes the problem of what to do with them!  I strongly believe that kids should be able to entertain themselves.  That is NOT to say that I don't want to plan fun things for them throughout the summer, but it does mean that I will not be their play thing all summer, every day.  

I recently read an article that stated that children should be bored once in a while, especially today's children.  And you know, at first I was taken aback, but then I thought about it more.  Yes!  Children should learn how to use their imaginations and brains to entertain themselves.  My mom didn't play with my all the time.  In fact, I don't remember her playing with me at all.  She would take me places, and plan events, but she never got down on the floor and played with me.

What's wrong with that?  I think absolutely nothing!

I sit back, often, and notice the differences in my children.  Both are incredibly imaginative, however, my son plays pretend and entertains himself more often than my daughter.  My daughter is getting to that age where technology is becoming more a part of her life.  I don't want her tied to her devices all the time, but I can see value in some of what she uses her devices for.  

So what am I going to do this summer, especially with my kids?  I do plan to take them to the beaches, both here in Florida and up in Michigan, as we will be spending about a month up there.  I plan to take them bowling, maybe for some ice cream, to the parks, mini golfing, and maybe a zoo or something.  I don't have a lot of time here in FL to do some of the things I want to do with them. 

I also have been pinning a bunch of ideas of what to do with my kids, activities to do at home.  

What are your plans for this summer?

Where doe the time go?

So, I've been thinking about time passing lately.  Probably because my children's birthdays are coming up.  My little man's birthday is a week from tomorrow, April 29th!  YIKES!  He is turning 4.  It feels like he was just turning 1!  He is growing up, but still is so small.  He asked me in the car today how he could grow up faster.  And my only answer was that I didn't want him to grow up faster.

I want him to stay the same sweet, caring, although frustrating at times, spunky self!  

Anyway, mostly I've been thinking about my daughter.  She'll be 9 in the end of May.  This is such a weird age.  I can see her trying to be older and more mature, and there are times I do wonder where my little girl has gone.  But everyone once in a while, I get to catch a glimpse of my little girl.  She is still there.

Sometimes...

I remember this time in my life.  When I wanted to be older, but I also wanted to play with my toys.  I can see, even when she is with her friends, they still want to play with their Monster High dolls, and Barbies, but then they are all starting to want to use technology, get cell phones, iPads and tablets.  

I have seen it with one of my friend's daughters as well.  She still likes her My Little Ponies, but is trying desperately to be older.  

I remember it being very confusing, but also exciting.  And now, it is exciting, and very scary to be going through it on the other side.  To be witnessing her growing up from a parent's prospective... I'm sure my mom felt the same way when I was my daughter's age.

So where do we go from here?  I don't want to baby her, and I do want to give her more freedoms, but I also scared of what is out in the world for her and excited all at the same time.  

I just hope I am doing something right with her... And I do catch glimpses that I am.

Did you have a child who is on the verge of the pre-teen years?  How are you handling it?