One Uneventful Summer

"Is there something to do, is there something to do?" - Depeche Mode

Perhaps I love running because it is the ideal activity. It's free; doesn't require hair, makeup, and restrictive clothing; you can do it anywhere, you don't end up feeling bloated or hungover after, and you get fresh air and sometimes the company of like-minded people (I'll explore running friendships in a future post).

Yes, running fulfills every need on my activity checklist. You know what doesn't? Finding stuff to do with my kids. We are now on the tenth day of summer vacation and I feel like aside from half day camp my kids haven't done much and it's all...my...fault. Sure there were a couple of pool days, a swim lesson, and their track clinic (yes I have the littles on the road to running in my footsteps!)...but those three things pretty much happened all in one day. One really long, hot, swamp-crotch level humid day. Yes we did two days of picnics and fireworks...but holidays don't count because, well, you always do something on holidays.

So here I am on a Saturday morning asking myself, "Is there something to do?"  When I don't find something to do my kids spend another day (gasp) using their imaginations by inventing games to play in the house that swallows nearly 50 percent of our income, that we shouldn't be spending too much time in. I'm only being half sarcastic there, because I actually feel terrible when I don't find some place to take them. Social media has me under the impression that my friends have boundless energy and bottomless bank accounts and therefore their kids ALWAYS have something to do.

Here's what happens when I try to find something to do...if it's not too expensive then it's too far, or too early, or too rainy, or NOBODY wants to do it! The first event litmus test is always the price. Since I stopped using credit cards (another thing to be explored in a future post) we have to adhere to a monthly budget. Going anywhere these days as a family is really costly. I splurged on family tickets for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Broadway for our wedding anniversary. If I tell you how many hours of over time I had to put in to pay for those tickets. Trust me if my family doesn't love that show you may see me on a future Dateline episode. I know, so romantic taking your kids to a show...for your anniversary...with no room left in the budget to hire a babysitter after to go out to dinner.

If the activity can fit in the budget the next hurdle is energy. As stated in my previous post the pool is always a great option, but by the time it takes to prepare and slather everybody in sunscreen I'm exhausted. Being I'm extra sensitive to temperatures I usually don't swim with my kids. I want to, believe me, but the water is usually too cold for me and it literally makes my skin hurt. I end up sitting under a tree trying not to fall asleep. The pool is also weather dependent and it has been one rainy summer. 

If there's enough money and muscle for the activity the last hurdle is mileage. More miles in a run, good, more miles to an activity, bad. The farther away the fatter the chance I'll go on my own or get my husband (the ultimate homebody) to go. I checked the local mommy page and found a hot air balloon festival this weekend...but it's so NOT local. I take it that since it's a town I've never even heard of, that it's so not local that I will spend 1/4 of my day trying to sell the idea to my husband, 1/2 of it in the car, 1/8 finding parking, leaving only an 8th at the actual event. What's the point of a local mommy page if the events require bridges, tolls, and an overnight bag?

So forget it. I mean, why should I feel so pressured to find something to do? My kids have an active enough life. They go to camp, take swim lessons, play three sports a year, and spend a week at the beach every summer. They are even getting to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory because their two awesome, though often too tired to do something, parents are sacrificing their anniversary dinner. Hey, in this family we choose quality over quantity! Oh look the sun is out maybe we will go to the pool...or just to the mall to get ice cream...yeah ice-cream is always the answer.

*Miles ran this week  25. Days until  marathon 120 .

ETA: When I hit the publish button twin B walked into my office and said, "Mommy please can we go somewhere? I don't want to stay in the house."