I am on a quick trip to Washington, D. C. (I left yesterday and get back tomorrow) for meetings. I was asked to join an advisory council for the United Nations Foundation’s Shot@Life program (you may remember the “comment for vaccines” posts I’ve done for the last two years), so I will be sitting in on global health initiative sessions and World Health Organization briefings. I am really excited about the opportunity to make a difference on a larger scale, which all of you amazing readers and commenters have helped me secure. You have come through for me in a big way the last two years, and the United Nations Foundation noticed. I’m looking forward to all of us blowing them away over the next year!
Around The ‘Net
~The Families That Can’t Afford Summer
~The ugly secret of working moms
~Amber Heard And The Narratives Of Domestic Violence
~Why 70 percent of kids quit sports by age 13
~In Sickness, in Health, in White Castle
~Getting to know my father, the woman
~McDonald’s: you can sneer, but it’s the glue that holds communities together
~Let the Office Thermostat Wars Begin
In Summer
Since I work from home, I’ve been slowly stockpiling ways to entertain the kids over summer break while also allowing me to get stuff done. The kids are signed up for swimming lessons in the mornings, which will be nice, but I’ve been coming up with other ideas, too (and if you have good ideas for independent play, please let me know!).
~Annabel has been BEGGING for this inflatable pool, but I am torn. She and James would love it, but with the draught it would be hard to justify. Maybe I can use the pool water on my plants when the kids are done…I don’t know. I will have to do some investigating.
~I kind of want to get Annabel this little laminator. I could see her making all kinds of things with it. I can also see her getting a head start into the fake ID industry….so…at least she’d have extra cash? LOL
~My friend Meredith’s book will be my summer activity handbook this summer. It will also remind me that even though I have work to do, it’s important I take time every day to play (especially with my kids!).
~I’m sure the sound of them clomping around will get old fast, but I know they will have a blast with these EZ Steppers – the Kindergarten yard at Annabel’s school had them and she loved using them.
Happy Sunday, everyone!
Melanie says:
We have that exact pool and it takes a TON of water to fill up, even if you’re only doing it halfway. But I will admit, it’s a blast. Lots of room for the whole family (adults included).
Alas, I couldn’t justify filling it up this year, with the drought in place. (especially because I don’t feel safe leaving the water in more than a day because of mosquitos)
This year I bought a much smaller pool for $10 that really only fits the kids.
Dianne says:
If you do decide do get that pool, you should figure out a way to hook up a small Intex filter pump to it. It was a great pool and we used it on our screened porch thinking that the water would stay OK for a while (without tree debris or mosquitos in it). But the water gets gross – it needs to have chlorine added and to be filtered in order to reuse that same water for more than a day or two.
Shelly says:
WE have that pool also, the only downfall to it is it has no plug so when you have to empty it and refill its a big pain.
Becki says:
You can enjoy the pool responsibly. They are not prohibited. Maybe use it only on the hottest days. And then when the water is dirty? J & A could use buckets and pails to empty it by watering plants, the outer reaches of the grass etc. So you teach them conservation as well as the fun. And then? Turn it over and broom out the water over the grass.
BIANCA says:
I’d get the pool. Not the laminator – they can get quite hot (even within legal safe limits) and too much potential for tiny fingers to get hurt IMO.
Cheryl says:
Thanks for the article about families that can’t afford summer. Made me count my blessings. I send my son to a camp at a Christian school and I was happy that it only costs $155-$170/week (depending upon the field trips). That seems inexpensive to me since I was paying $200/week for daycare before he started school. Since we both work full time I don’t have a choice but luckily I can afford it. I really don’t know what you would do if you couldn’t. I’m also fortunate that I can work from home occasionally (so can my husband) so when he has days off of school one of us can be there. Thank you for the reminder others are not as fortunate and when I grumble about my job, I need to remember I enjoy flexibility and a lot of other people do not.
Cathi says:
I am totally obsessed with Hamilton right now – can’t get it out of my head. (Distracting!) Hadn’t seen the WSJ article – thanks for sharing!
Holly says:
Oh my gosh, get the pool! On days they use it you can compensate by skipping a bath. I live in SoCal so I get the drought thing, but I have such great memories of my kids splashing in their kiddie pool in the backyard — now they’re teens and those days seem so long ago. Do it!
Sam says:
We purchased a slightly smaller version of that pool at Target for $20. My 6 and 10 year olds love it!
BIANCA says:
Oh, and really dying to see Hamilton! Sadly being in Europe I will have to wait until 2017!