This was Pete's designated Week of Nothing. Julie started camp on Monday, but Pete doesn't start until next Monday (and hers ends a week earlier than his does, so she'll have her Week of Nothing in August).
We didn't do much this week, Pete and I. I wouldn't take him anywhere that Julie also wants to go (like the Museum of Science), because then I'd have to go again with her, which ends up costing a fortune—plus it's more fun when we do things like that together. I had originally promised to take him to see the second "Transformers" movie, but that was because I accidentally typed in "Terminator 2" instead of "Transformers 2" when I checked the reviews, and it seemed OK. In fact, the "Transformers" movie is reported to be extremely scary and gory and violent (more so than the first one, which Andy took Pete to), and also contains a great deal of inappropriate sexual material. So once I got that straightened out, forget it. And there were no other movies playing that he wanted to see. None. On top of all that, I had work to do.
So Monday Pete went into Charlestown with me and played on the computer while I reconciled the month's bank statements. Tuesday we ran a ton of errands (Staples, Trader Joe's, etc.). Wednesday he had a long playdate with a friend who just got back from vacation. Thursday and Friday ... we did nothing much. He watched some TV, he ran around outside, he played on the computer, he read, and he started making two decks of trading cards, one medieval and one futuristic, each with more intricately drawn weaponry than the last. For some reason he declined to go to the pool with me even once.
But you know what? I don't feel bad about it, not one bit. Nowhere in the instruction manual I got with my kids does it say that they have to be kept entertained every minute of every day. I don't want my kids to expect to have something interesting and fun planned every day, or else they'll be disappointed and at a loss as to how to occupy themselves. Pete didn't complain at all this week, and indeed I think he appreciated having a nice long stretch of downtime for a change.
I so agree with you! Both of my daughters found interesting stuff to do when they were bored that led to great accomplishments with art and crafts (Ashley) and piano (Alison). It's important to allow children time to "putter."
Posted by: Margaret | July 17, 2009 at 11:48 PM
Amen! Down time for kids is a wonderful thing. My kids will have their own "week of nothing" coming up soon in between camp and vacation and we can't wait. Kudos to you Karen for NOT being one of those parents who has to have something structured/entertaining for her kids to do every minute of every day!
Posted by: Rachel Kagno | July 18, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Cliff and I vacationed with his mother and her older sister Judy these last two weeks. Thus, I was regaled with stories of their youth - which I loved hearing. One of their family's traditions was "anything-you-want-for-dinner" sundays (because mother did NOT want to cook. Apparently, this meant a lot of ice cream.
50+ years later, these gals remember those nights as one of the best family traditions they know.
As much as I try not to, I get more and more sentimental about my hopes for my childrens' lives (should I ever be so blessed). I thought about you while on our cruise when I saw a family with their three children (boys) dressed in their little blue sports coats and grey slacks (the cruise required formal dress most nights): the parents were attentive and the children talkative and excited; and on their best behavior. Those kids were making memories that will inform the rest of their lives.
Talk about a Mitzvah.
Posted by: Steve | August 15, 2009 at 01:12 PM