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Kelli (Stay-at-home mom of Logan 9, and Whitney 7): Boy, Spring Break sure has a different meaning when you become a mom.
Jen (Dual-career mom of Jacob 6, and Caleb, 3): You mean you’re not headed off to South Padre Island to stay at the
Kelli: Maybe next year. Right now I’m still putting together a plan for next week when the kids are out of school for Spring Break/Easter Break.
Jen: Spring Break - what a great concept. A quick little taste of freedom before the looming summer vacation. That is, it's great unless you are working full time and don't have oodles of vacation to take at the same time as your little ones. Then it becomes one more coordination nightmare for the working parent.
Kelli: You know, I start off cursing Spring Break and the disruption it causes in the flow of our schedule. Then I realize the break offers me some time to slow down from the daily grind to have some play time with my kids again.
Jen: It actually worked out better this year because I’m on maternity leave. Normally I’d be working, so I’d probably be scrambling to sign Jacob up for some sort of Spring Break camp. That way he’d have some fun and I’d have child care.
Kelli: The challenge for me is my kids don’t realize it’s business as usual for Mom and all my responsibilities.
Jen: Spring Break is traditionally rough as a DCM because that’s not usually a time I allot for vacation time. I save it for my kids’ sick days, Christmas Break, or for summer vacations.
Then, on top of not being able to take time off, I’ve got the extra expense (and stress) of coming up with child care or day camp.
Kelli: I do empathize with my DCM friends and what can be the hassle of Spring Break. I concede it’s not nearly as challenging being a SAHM and simply needing to keep the kids busy or out from underfoot so the normal routines of a household keep functioning.
Jen: I actually don’t have much planned except to enjoy being home with my children.
Kelli: For me, there’s the temptation of trying to squeeze too many things to do in this week off. For example, this is probably the last chance we’ll have to get any more skiing in. Plus, we’ve been talking about finally getting to the California Academy of Sciences in
Jen: Whew! I think I’m just looking forward to not having to race out the door after a quick assembly line of breakfast and lunch making.
Kelli: Actually, I think we’ll pick one thing and save the rest for summer break and weekends. With this short reprieve from school, homework, baseball, swim team and other normal demands on our time, I think there’s something to be said for sleeping in and letting the day unfold.
Jen: One other thing to consider for a DCM is maybe taking a few days off - like Thursday and Friday to take your kids on a long weekend. Instead of taking the whole week, which may not be possible, this will allow you to still spend some time with your little ones while meeting your other work commitments.
Kelli: There is something I almost forgot to plan for in the upcoming week off!
Jen: Does it have anything to do with dyeing eggs and preparing for a visit from a hippity- hoppity, long-eared puff ball?
Kelli: Nothing says Spring Break like a basket full of candy and treats from the Easter Bunny...
Jen: …or Mommy getting to raid the Easter basket for chocolate when Spring Break’s over and the kids go back to school.
Kelli Wheeler is a
Jen Hall is a
Sacramento Area Spring Break Camps and Ideas
- YMCA Spring Break
- YMCA Spring Break Camp. All day camp of sports and games, arts and crafts, field trips and swimming and crafts for K-9 grades. www.sacymca.org
- BounceU’s Jump into Heart Health Spring Break Camp. Three hours of fun learning, exercise and a meal available each day (April 6-10). BounceU,
- Hornet Baseball 2009 Spring Break Camp. Three days of elite professional instruction by the
- Effie Yeaw Spring Fun Days. Half-day day camps available for K-5 at the
- Park and Recreation District Spring Break Camps. Most local park and recreation districts offer spring break full-day camps at reasonable rates. For example, Mission Oaks Recreation and Park District offers camp (Apr 6-10) for 6-12 year-olds for $75 all week 8 am to 5pm. http://www.morpd.com/things...
- Warrior Spring Break Basketball Camp. All day basketball camp (Apr. 6-9) for 8-18 year-olds taught by
- Spring Break Horse Camp. Kids seven and up can learn to ride a horse during this daily or weekly camp from 10 am to 2pm in Elk Grove. http://www.eponafarms.com./...
Key: $ = under $25 family of four activity, $+ = between $25 – $40 depending on rental or ages, $$ = over $40 family of four activity
OUTDOOR
Start with miniature golf with the option of bumper boats and race car driving/riding.
The
Always a crowd pleaser, go in the morning to take advantage of livelier animals.
Folsom Zoo – $
403 Stafford Streets, Folsom, 916-351-3527, http://www.folsom.ca.us/dep...
A unique zoo sanctuary of non-releasable wild and pet animals with nearby park and train.
Seely Park with
Easy supervision for all ages at a clean park with a water play area.
In the
Gibson Ranch - $+
Kids over 8 can ride a horseback trail or bring poles and bread for free fishing and feeding the waterfowl.
INDOOR
King’s Skate Country - $+
Rent skates or bring your own rollerblades to cut cost and still rock out to “Funkytown.”
Skatetown Roseville - $+
Ice skating is a great way to cool down and mix it up. Special learning area and tools for little ones.
John’s Incredible Pizza Co. - $$
384 N
With an extensive buffet and variety of games (and rides!) an updated, yummier way to do Chuck E. Cheese.
Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary – Free
Kids will be surrounded by dozens of cats and do a good deed by volunteering playtime.
The Esquire IMAX Theatre - $$ with downtown parking
Catch an educational movie on the big, big screen.
RPM Indoor Kart Racing - $$
This one’s for the bigger kids, 8+. Take a quick go-cart lesson and they’re off to the races.
Rocknasium - $$
Supervised, harnessed adventure for all ages at this indoor rock climbing facility.
Making science fun and keeping minds fresh at this interactive experience for all ages.
Country Club Lanes Bowling and
All age kids love GLO-Bowling, glow in the dark bowling, with lane bumpers and ball guides. There’s also Laser Tag for older kids.
Capitol Aquarium – Free
Kid of all ages will be mesmerized window shopping the extensive collection of fish.
WORTH TRAVELING FOR
10791 East Empire St.,
Young and old will be fascinated by the historic grounds and tours of
Jelly Belly Factory – Free
An intriguing experience for all ages and leave with Belly Flops from the gift shop.
The Exploratorium is full of fascinating things to look at, play with and learn from - for everyone from toddlers to teenagers to so-called grown-ups.
Recently refurbished, the new Academy offers awesome museum experiences from the rainforest to the aquarium to the planetarium and more.
