School is back in session, and not a moment too soon.
As a child, I loved summer, of course. Didn’t we all? It meant schedule-free days of devouring books, roaming around town with friends, tormenting my little sister and maybe even seeing my out-of-state cousins for a few days.
Then I became a parent — the parent of a child with weak social skills, no siblings, no cousins within two decades of his age or 1,600 miles of our house, and a hatred of reading. So every year when springtime rolls around, I fret by day and toss and turn by night, worrying about what a 10-week break from school will mean for his emotional development, his social life and his entire academic future. Then, like a good Johnson County mother, I empty my bank account into various summer programs.
By the time my son was 5, I had spent more money on his summer activities than my parents spent on my summer activities over an entire 18 years. Thousands more.
I tell myself it’s worth it. Then I tell myself again, to be sure I heard right. Because while part of me thinks the current child-rearing generation is the most awesome generation of parents ever, a bigger part of me thinks we have lost our collective minds.
Did our parents lose sleep the summer after our second-grade year worrying about our college prospects? For that matter, did they lose sleep the summer after our junior year of high school worrying about it? I recall that year, and I know for a fact that figuring out the whole college thing was considered my problem, not my parents’ problem.
Yet here I am, in August 2012, already worrying about next summer, and by extension, my son’s prospects for August 2022. That’s how a modern-day middle-class parent’s mind works. I cannot allow my technology-addicted, outdoors-averse son to spend three months hanging around the house while he gains weight, drains the iPad battery twice a day and pesters me for something to do while I’m trying to meet deadlines. He’s aging out of the camp we’ve been using, and it’s a mere half-day anyway. So I’ve already begun the search for an all-summer day camp that emphasizes outdoor activities, doesn’t involve religion and happily welcomes kids who don’t play sports. And by “welcome,” I do not mean, “Sure, he’s welcome to sit and watch.”
As problems go, this is a minor one, I’ll admit. Millions of parents the world over — and more than we might like to think right here in Joco — are far more worried about feeding their kids tomorrow than about entertaining them 10 months from now. My son and I might both learn a lesson or two if I searched for summer volunteer opportunities as diligently as I’m searching for summer camp opportunities. I don’t know whether any all-day, summer-long community service camps for 10-year-olds exist in this area, but if they don’t, they should.
Because you’re never too young to start putting things into perspective.
Sarah Smith Nessel, a 913 freelance columnist, writes The Bubble each week.
April Heim
9 months agoSarah,
I just opened Acorns to Oaks Daycare and Preschool in South Overland Park. Our facility is in the First Faith Church at 167th and Antioch. We are not affiliated with the church, we do rent our beautiful space from them. Although not a “religious” program, we will be praying at meals (per my 4 year-olds advice) and celebrating Christian holidays (because I can’t stand to live without Christmas!) The country church sits on 2 acres and we plan to use every square inch! We currently have a large fenced playground which includes a village of playhouses created for boys and girls each with a kitchen and tools/repair items. There is also a mailbox at each one for postman fun. Another area is landscaped with a sand pit, brick roads, tunnels and a lake… it includes construction, roadway and boating vehicles. Just outside the playground is a forage garden (sponsored by the Parks and Wildlife department) for attracting winter birds close enough for watching this winter. During the winter we are planting prairie grasses to encourage natural wildlife. Next spring we are adding a large vegetable garden that will be fed by a tank that retains runoff water and our own well. The children will be vested in the garden after planting and watching it grow which will encourage them to eat the vegetables they harvest. A Monarch weigh station is also in the plans which will attract all butterflies. This can be certified by KU. Inside is no exception with our professional aviary filled with Australian and South African birds. It’s like having a zoo experience right in the classroom. We even have 3 Zebra Finch chicks right now and 3 more nests full of eggs. Our curriculum is based on Maria Montessori statement that “play is a child’s work.” Music, Art and crazy fun projects fill our days. We offer full day summer care through age 12 that runs in conjunction with our daycare which has extended hours of 6:00AM to 6:30PM. Includes free breakfast and a free parents night out till 10:00 PM on the first Friday of every month. We also offer morning preschool, before and after school care with busing from Stanley Elementary and full day daycare/preschool. There are no televisions in our facility!! Sporting items are available outside if children choose to use them. Organized activities will include parachute fun, and a sampling of all types of activities including Tae Kwon Do and Frisbee. It sounds like you and I are of like mind and I would love to show you our beautiful center. Following is our contact information. Acorns to Oaks Daycare and Preschool 8633 W 167th St, Overland Park, KS 66085 913-239-0240. acornstooaks.info You can also find us on Facebook and see what we have been up to in the short time since we opened.