Summer and Pushing It
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| Thu, 05-18-2006 - 2:37pm |
Both ds16 and dd14 will have to attend summer school this year due to poor grades in Math (I swear we are "math challenged" here - even dh and I). This will last for only one month, from 7:30 to 1pm Monday through Friday.
Ds will probably get a job this summer (he wants to) and between summer school and having some down time, he'll probably have enough to do. However, I want dd14 to get involved in something this summer - and she is fighting me every step of the way. Her argument is that she already has to go to summer school, and she should have the rest of the summer to just "chill". LOL. I do have to work part time, but I have plenty of family nearby that can dropped by unannounced. I still want her to take a class, something fun, anything. She claims none of her friends are doing ANYTHING this summer. How do I get her involved in something without taking her kicking and screaming every step of the way? Is it worth it? Anyone btdt with any advise and/or regrets?
Oh, and btw, as I computer monitor, I read some of her messages and there is alot of "I am so bored..." ??????

I would definitely push it - I think too much "down time" is not a good thing, especially for teens. Maybe compromise on one or two days a week, or just a couple of weeks. I'm facing this with my DD - not that she's really resisting, but finding things to do that excite her. Maybe that would work with your DD too - not more school, but what's something you really like - and then see if there's something she can do with the time.
Bottom line - I am going to push it with my DD - we've got two weeks of a sleepaway "college" type camp, two weeks of vacation, and maybe a month volunteering with my agency. I'll have to map out the summer and see if she's still got too much open time.
Sue
Thanks for the advise. I wish I was more in touch with some of her friend's parents, because I think it's likely that some of them really are doing "something". Although I do know that in our area so many parents work, and it is hard to get them to these activities if you are at work (for instance, there is a class from 4 to 5 pm a couple of days a week). But I agree we've got to keep them busy. I dread a summer of nothing.
I know I will be called a "controlling" parent but oh, well.
One more thing: I have the same problem finding things that interest her. Should I just give her the summer catalog and say, "Pick two things you want to do this summer. You have to do something, so pick it or I will!" Believe me, if I leave it up to her she will pick nothing and then it will be too late to sign up for anything....$#@!