Since I work from home, people will ask me how I get any work done with all the distractions of housework, laundry, etc. The answer is easy. I LOVE my job. I hate cleaning my house. I keep trying to find ways to make it easier or more fun. Recently I saw some videos of people spending one hour a day on housework, just Monday through Friday, and they swear it works to keep a clean home. So one Sunday, I sat down and meal-planned, scheduled my weekly cleaning routine, and was ready for a more organized life. I cleaned my whole house that weekend to start with a fresh slate. I even encouraged my girls to start a cleaning routine, too, so they would not be stuck doing all of their chores on the weekends. Here’s how the week played out: Monday went as planned, Tuesday went as planned, Wednesday, “I just cleaned the showers; I really don’t need to do it again,” Thursday, “I’ll get to the laundry Saturday”… and Friday was a bust. Back to cleaning on the weekends.
I wish I could find a way to make house chores more entertaining. Sometimes it helps if I put on some fun music. As a young adult, my roommate and I would pour a glass of wine, turn on Melrose Place, and clean. Sharing the chores like that made it fun, but that may have been the novelty of having our own place (or the wine). But alas, the novelty has worn off, and I am too old for wine with chores. So the search for the perfect cleaning solution continues.
While I don’t have a great fix for chores, I do have a fabulous resource that I am super excited to share with you. It is the 2023 March Summer Camp issue! This is always a ton of fun to work on, and I am always amazed at the variety of camps available in the area. With so many opportunities, your child can explore new interests, enhance skills in a sport they love, or participate in educational opportunities, all while having fun and making new friends. To see what I am talking about, flip to the 2023 Summer Camp Guide. We have included day camps, art camps, sports camps, STEM camps, overnight camps, and more. It does not matter if your child is interested in sports, theater, music, science, or all of it, you will find several options in this valuable resource. The guide is especially beneficial when you have multiple children with varying and ever-changing interests. You may also want to read through Dr. Tanni Haas’s feature, Choosing The Right Summer Camp for Your Kids, to help you find the right fit.
Whether you choose a themed camp, day camp, or overnight camp, there is much your child can gain from attending camp, as Rebecca Hastings explains in her feature 10 Surprising Things I Learned After Sending My Child to Camp. I know it can be tough sending a child to sleep-away camp or even a new day camp, but more often than not it benefits the child and the parents. Don’t feel pressured to send them to an overnight camp if you are not comfortable yet. Plenty of half-day and full-day camps provide many of the same benefits.
As we head into spring and days start getting longer, I hope you will get out and take advantage of the wonderful activities in our communities. Visit the beach, hike on some nature trails, and flip to the Family Calendar, where you will find plenty to fill your weekends. Enjoy your March!
Author: Lynn Knighton
Lynn has called the Gulf area home since 2006 with her husband Brad and their 3 daughters. Following the sale of her Abrakadoodle franchise, Lynn still wanted to serve families and help them thrive. Becoming the Publisher of Greater Pensacola Parents was the perfect opportunity. Now she invests into family's lives each month by providing the area's #1 go-to resource for moms and dads.
