Yup the difference is in the punctuation mark.  My kids says it with an exclamation and I say it with a colon. Don’t get me wrong, I do love summer.  In fact I embrace the time to relax, sleep late, wake up late and yahoo! No tutoring.

But 2 weeks into summer break and I’m already screaming for order.   2 weeks of waking up at 11am with breakfast turning into lunch and all those hours spent glued to anything electronic (TV, computer, Wii, DS …)  simply cannot be allowed to continue for 3 months!  And so the hunt for the perfect summer activity begins.

Over the past years,  my kids have done swimming classes (a life skill I insist they master), cooking, arts and crafts, taekwondo and basketball.  Now,  the summer activities are getting more creative.  Dance for example can range from hiphop to flamenco, tap or even belly dancing.  Sports range from the staple basketball to yoga.  And even the arts now offer sculpting and pottery for kids.  There is even camping in the sweltering heat! The options are endless and of course if you add up the fees - it’s like paying tuition for a whole year!

My kids now  takes an active hand picking out their choices and making sure there is more than enough free time for whatever they choose to do at home – whether it is to ummm, errr watch tv/computer or play all day with the next door neighbors.  This year we do the all time favorite basketball, must do swimming,  excited to explore advanced painting class and fun to try hiphop.

Summer also gives me the time to impose rules I would not have energy to contend with during school days.  For instance packing away the toys.  On school days,  time is gold and when there is not enough time I let packing away slide – oh no not this summer.  Or tidying up the bathroom after a bath. I yakkity yak about it – since that is the only thing I yak about – no homework battles to argue.   So far, so good.

I also recently imposed for the nth time the “Eat whatever is on the table” rule.  I figured since there is no class,  we can discuss this rule for hours end till they take that one bite of Chicken Afritada.  Shame on me though -  one week into the rule and I give in!  Since patience is not one of my virtues,  I cannot simply discuss one bite for one hour!   I know, I know – I am creating my own monster (but that’s another story).

And so here we are, 12 noon,  on the last week before the summer activities kicks in, having our brunch;)