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Spring Break: It's Not Just Stressful for Parents! I can recall, oh, four years ago now, working for a family with three kids, all at very different stages in their educational careers. Today this seems like an overwhelming challenge, three kids at once. I am so used to focusing all of my attention on one little boy rather than having to sort out and co-ordinate three little lives. But I digress. Three kids, each three years apart. Our schedule was as follows; two girls left for school right away and so every morning it was me and the baby, just eight months old when I started. At around 11:15, the three year old would return from her half-day at school, we would go for a walk, perhaps to the park, and upon return, eat lunch together with the baby. The baby would then have her nap and I was left to entertain the three-year-old. At 4:00, the six year old would return from a full day of school, have a snack with her sister, and up would come baby. I would only have the three of them for around an hour and a half, possibly two. That was perfectly fine with me! I too, know the dread of spring break. Though not yet a mother, I am fully aware of how different things can be when the kids are home for a whole week, for no real reason. Summer vacation is different. It is somehow more tolerable. In my situation the kids had day camps virtually every day and I think I may have even seen them less during their summer break than I did during a regular school season. They both attended mini-university for full days for what seemed like the entire summer. But spring break was different. They were home with no camps to sidetrack them, no regular outings, no family vacations. Just three hyper kids with a wicked case of cabin fever. For a nanny who was used to having them practically one-on-one, this was a handful. I praise mothers of three, two even. After taking care of George for three years solid now, I have come to the conclusion that I believe I would be a perfectly happy mother of one. I've taken care of two at a time, three at a time, even four for a short while, and I must say, I am happy with a solo charge. So what's there to do with three kids in the middle of the year that is a suitable activity for three separate age groups to enjoy? Not too much. We went bike riding daily, the baby in a bike seat, the toddler on her training wheels and the six-year-old whizzing past us, complaining that we were going too slow. We went to the playground, but which one to go to? The one around the corner has more serious stuff for the six-year-old, but its too challenging for the toddler (even though she tried everything anyway) and forget the baby! The one down the road has baby swings and smaller structures, but then the six-year-old gets bored to tears. Spring break is a time for the big C word. COMPROMISE! My suggestions for dealing with different aged children range from easy to challenging. Many things can be done to satiate the energetic appetites of kids of all ages these days. This is, in part, thanks to wonderful facilities such as Adventure City (large climbing structures for toddlers and up, plus a mini structure for those still small or crawling), the Children's Museum, which houses endless opportunities for fun for kids of any age, any MacDonald's that has a playland (my personal favorite!), and a multitude of city parks and playground structures that can be visited in turns, one day at the more advanced playground, on day at the smaller playground. Spring break can be a fun and adventurous time for all, if every one is willing to give in a little here and there. If the six-year-old will attend the smaller park one day to keep her sister happy, then going to the bigger park the following day should definitely be on your list of things to do. Let the kids know that compromises will be rewarded in their own time. Of course there is one sure fire way to have a peaceful spring break….. schedule LOTS of play dates! That way all the kids are happy and keeping themselves busy and spring break will fly by. Then things can go back to normal for all, even the nanny!
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