DD away for two weeks

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-14-2006
DD away for two weeks
6
Mon, 08-06-2007 - 9:55pm

My DD16 is away on her annual two-week stay with my parents. This started when she was about 12 - and could leave the much younger bro at home - he got alone time with us, she got spoiled by the grandparents. It's still her favorite time of the year - but now her little brother is jealous - next year we'll have to figure out a way for both of them to have Grandma and grampa time.

Anyway, it's a challenge to think about what she'll *do* while she's there - this year she came up with the idea on her own. My Dad has a friend who owns a bakery - DD called this friend, and arranged a two-week "internship". Nothing formal - she's just dying for real bakery experience. I'm proud of her - she went way outside of her comfort zone to call this woman, to arrange the whole thing, and today she walked into a bakery full of strangers and just jumped right into their routine.

On the phone today she was ecstatic - "I rolled dough, cut biscotti, helped frost carrot cakes, mixed stuff, and carried lots of heavy things!" - LOL, this is what my kid considers a summer vacation!

The house is strange without her - it's not that she's so noisy or anything, but it's just weird - I keep expecting her to come home from the gym, or change the channel on the TV or something.

Sue

p.s. On Friday, my DH is taking DS8 to visit his mom - so I will be totally alone in my own house for 2 1/2 days!! The possibilities are endless!!

Avatar for jbgattuso
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-29-2003
Tue, 08-07-2007 - 7:33am

Sue, That is such a neat tradition. There is nothing like a relationship for kids with their grandparents! I hope that you're ds gets the opportunity next yr. As for the quiet house.....enjoy it! I am laughing though, cause if you're anything like me, after your DH and DS leave, you'll be ready for them to come back after about 5 hours LOL. No really....enjoy :)

Julie

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2006
Tue, 08-07-2007 - 9:40am

Hi Sue,

It sounds like everyone is having fun this summer at your house! Good for you and good for the rest of your family! Enjoy the quiet! I'm actually quite envious! ;-)

Amelia

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-14-2006
Tue, 08-07-2007 - 10:23am

Amelia! I was just thinking of you last night - haven't seen too much of you on the board this summer. I hope things are going well at your house - don't forget to update us - I miss you!

Sue

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2006
Tue, 08-07-2007 - 11:25am

Ah, Sue! You don't know how much your words cheered me this morning! Thanks! For some reason, I have just been feeling stressed and burdened by life this summer. Hopefully, it will start to get better soon.

Thanks again!
Amelia

Community Leader
Registered: 12-16-2003
Wed, 08-08-2007 - 7:36am
That is so great that she is excited about this! Enjoy your ds! Also enjoy the time when you are by your self!! Ahhh!

Ramona  Mom to 2 great kids and wife to one wonderful hubby since 1990!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
Wed, 08-08-2007 - 10:29am

How fun for L! Isn't it great to see our little girls growing into young ladies who can step outside their comfort zones and take charge? I love it! Sounds like L is having a great time with her bakery experience.

I hope you enjoy your weekend! I imagine you have a couple of books in mind to fill the hours? LOL

I actually sent C and W both off to camp this week. They were both a little bored, restless, 'don't have many friends', wish we had something to do ... and the mommy guilt was settling in hard -- having moved them away from all their friends and activities, etc., and no matter what *I* suggested as something to do, it wasn't the right thing, didn't want to do it with me, wanted to be with kids their own age, etc.

Anyway, I found a YMCA camp last Wednesday that still had some openings for this week. It's about 2.5 hours away. C is at the top end of the age limit and was worried she was going to be 'too old' for the experience. But when I dropped them off Sunday afternoon, she was chattering away to the counselors. W looked like he wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole. (He takes a while to warm up, but once he does, he's the funniest guy around and the life of the party.)

Anyway, I hope they are having fun and now I have some time to get some things done around here without worrying about them! Or drowing in a little sea of guilt ...