by Hope
Today begins my kid free two weeks. Sea Cadet left for his job at the summer camp in VA last Monday. And I will drop Gymnast and Princess at summer camp this evening.
This will be the third summer since I had kids that I have downtime like this. I have so many plans. My to do list has grown by leaps and bounds as I have contemplated how to use this time.
Economics of Summer Camp
The cost of the kids’ summer camp has been discussed several times. Now it is here. And the cost is so worth it to me with just the thought of this down time. (Parents of teenagers will be understand this. Teenage angst in full affect in our home these days.)
But I also know that at this point, this will be our last summer of camp. Princess has already started applying for jobs and will be old enough to attend college classes at the local community college next summer. And Gymnast? Well, we are not sure what his immediate future is going to look like.
I am budgeting $50 for my two weeks to give me some fun money. But in reality the weeks are going to save me money.
- No gas costs. I don’t anticipate leaving the house much at all. This is huge, especially when you consider my gas costs has been more than $100 a week for the past year.
- I am continuing to list things for sale – antique cameras, schoolbooks and crafty items. Hopefully, I’ll get some sales with more time to focus on this on-going project.
- Work, work, work! In addition to project work that I’ve picked up. I have a new business opportunity that I will be putting in some time on this week (more on that soon.) Specifically, I will be hitting up local businesses and networking.
Me Time
The daily stress of the last year has been overwhelming, especially the last few months. And while I think we have turned the corner, the burden has been rough. Single motherhood, single income households and big moves are definitely not for everyone.
I am planning on some quality me time this next couple of weeks. And I am doing it for free, these are my plans:
- Giving myself a manicure and pedicure using the stuff I bought a couple of months ago.
- Read, read, read. I LOVE to read. My library card is in working order, and I can check out books online anytime. Or go get some.
- Scrapbooking! I have fallen way behind on the kids’ books. I have had the pics printed for years (literally.) I am determined to get some updates done with the craft supplies I have on hand.
I think all of us need these next two weeks. And I’m grateful the camp is already paid for. I think a break from each other, our crazy schedules and the daily grind will do us all good.
Are you getting a break this summer? Do your kids participate in any summer camps? How do you get some downtime?
Hope is a creative, solutions-focused business manager helping clients grow their business and work more efficiently by leveraging expertise in project management, digital marketing, & tech solutions. She’s recently become an empty nester as her 5 foster/adoptive kids have spread their wings. She lives with her 5 dogs in a small town in NE Georgia and prefers the mountains to the beaches any day. She struggles with the travel bug and is doing her best to help each of her kids as their finish schooling and become independent (but it’s hard!) She has run her own consulting company for almost twenty years! Hope began sharing her journey with the BAD community in the Spring of 2015 and feels like she has finally in a place to really focus on making wise financial decisions.
Enjoy your alone time!