I don’t know what it was like where you grow up, or where you live now, but when I was growing up spring break consisted of one week off of school (Well, nine days, if you want to get technical). The school district we live in now, however, has spring break for two weeks. TWO WEEKS. Never mind that, they don’t even have to walk uphill to school! Both ways! In the snow! Kids these days have no idea how good they have it.
The teenagers around here are surely rejoicing but my kids are at the age where they hate not being at school and they miss their friends on days off and those two weeks seem like a looooong time. For us parents trying to balance work and kids and keeping them from bouncing off of the walls, it feels like an eternity.
Enter Grandma.
My Step-mom has taken my kids for the first week of July the last two summers while she helps host a VBS. She won’t be helping with the VBS this July as she will be staying at our house that week while everyone is here to celebrate my younger brother’s wedding. She called a couple of weeks ago and asked if she could take the kids over her spring break instead (she’s a school bus driver)(in a school district that only takes ONE week)(which thankfully overlaps with the first of our TWO weeks) and the timing couldn’t be more perfect as I have to fly to Toronto for a few days for Something Really Cool To Be Announced Soon.
Thus, early (VERY early) Saturday morning, Matthew and I are loading the kids and their stuff into the van and making the trek to the Coast, dropping the kids off with Grandma, then making the trek all the way back home. Driving time alone will be between twelve to fourteen hours (return). We’d spend a night but there’s that whole fact that Matthew’s job is leading the Sunday morning program at our church. Plus! Since the kids will be at Grandma’s I feel no guilt at all for leaving a day early for Toronto so I can squeeze in some time with a few good friends and take some (many) photos.
So! If things are quiet around here for a little while it’s because we’re driving all across creation (or, B.C.) and I’m flying across the country and hanging out with old friends and meeting new friends and being spoiled and treated a little bit like a rock star. (I can’t wait to tell you guys, but I can’t right now and I just got the detailed itinerary and I’m SO EXCITED.)(I’ll tell you soon.)(Hopefully when I get back.) If you really want to know what I’m up to on a daily basis, there’s always Twitter. Of course.
How about you guys? Any plans for spring break? Or are you already half way through and wondering if you and your kids will make it through unscathed?
That’s great that your stepmom can look after the kids during their break! It’s always a juggle when it comes to school holidays, and I’m glad I work from home and have a mum who is able to help out too.
Have a GREAT time in Toronto for whatever reason you are going there! Sounds intriguing, can’t wait to find out more!
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Sounds like it will be a great time for your whole family!
I don’t get Spring Break any more, obviously, but it was one of the highlights of the year for me when I was a kid. We have family that used to live in California, so we’d always do a road trip down there to hang with them, go to Disneyland and so on. I have so many wonderful memories from those vacations.
Have fun in Toronto!
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Your step-mom is so awesome!!!! (I know I’m stating the obvious here.) It’ll be so much easier for you with the kids being away if you’re away too – but how is Matthew going to cope?
Kaylie doesn’t get a March break. She had a week off in February, and she gets a week (plus a day) (Good Friday) at Easter. I think I like it better that way, especially since I’ll be done work and be home to take care of her by then (and have a baby by then). (ACK!) Finding childcare during school breaks is such a NIGHTMARE, I’m glad your step-mom stepped up!
I hope you have an amazing time in Toronto. Can’t wait to hear about it!!!
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Enjoy sleeping in my bed in the Martell house!
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2 weeks?! Sheesh! When I was in school we didn’t get a real spring break! We had an Easter break which consisted of half day on Thursday, off on Good Friday and off the Monday after. I didn’t know non-college aged kids got a spring break until I moved to where I am now.
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I hope you all get to where you’re going safely and that YOU have a fabulous time in Toronto. Can’t wait to know what’s up!
Our Spring Break is combind with Easter break this year (this place is weird since the kids just had a break from school for Mardi Gras… anyway….)
Enjoy!
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Sounds fantastic – have a blast! For me it’s easier to enjoy that time away when I know the kids are having a treat too.
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Have fun! Safe travels
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Well obviously spring break, which was a week ago here, has no impact on me. I am however going to Edinburgh next week.
While there I’m going to be going to meet some of “our” second cousins. That would be “our” grandmother’s brother’s family. Cool huh!
While you’re away say, hi to that step mom of yours for me.
take care,
Carrie
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What about snow days??!! Our kids get days off school if it’s too cold or if there’s too much rain. What a bunch of crap! I remember standing at that bus stop freezing my butt off when it was 2 degrees outside!
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And thank you for reminding me that I only have Thursday covered. Ack!
Drive safe, and enjoy the trip with Matthew. And I hope your kids have a blast with their Grandma. Sound like fun.
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I’m trying really hard to have a baby. Really really hard.
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Hmmm we get no spring break here in Kerala. Probably because we don’t have spring. Just Summer, Monsoon, more Summer and then more Monsoon.
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Obviously with a toddler there isn’t much in the way of Spring Break, but when my nieces are on spring break we have big big petting zoo plans! I can’t wait!
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