SAHM: Surviving Spring Break with Your Sanity Intact

It's the time of the year to consider how you, as a stay-at-home mom, will survive the kids being home from school for an entire week. A week of rambunctious children who never have anything to do. You cringe at the thought of toys strewn across the living room, mud tracked through the freshly mopped kitchen, and the constant cries of, "I'm bored!" at a pitch higher than even a dog can hear. Yet, it doesn't have to be as bad as you suspect, or even as bad as past Spring Break vacations. All it takes is a little planning and you too can survive Spring Break with your sanity still intact.

Get Outside -- Yes, yes, you have loads of stuff to do indoors: paperwork to finish, bills to pay, housework to do, laundry to wash. Nonetheless, getting you and the kids outside is a necessity when it comes to surviving Spring Break. Use the comfortable temperatures to explore the backyard (everything's in bloom, you know). Lay in the grass and color with your child. Set up a finger painting station outside. Spread out a blanket and have a picnic. Read stories while lounging in the hammock. Have a family picture day.

Plan a Day Trip -- Remember that aquarium membership you purchased six months ago because it was a good deal? Go use it! Spring Break is the best time for taking a day trip to your local aquarium, zoo, and/or museum. Take a drive through the mountains to see nature blooming before your child's eyes. Pack a picnic lunch and hit the local park or favorite playground. A day trip not only keeps your kids entertained, but also keeps all of you from being trapped indoors and suffering with the I'm Bored Syndrome.

Movie Day -- Unfortunately, sometimes the inevitable happens during Spring Break. Rain. Rain doesn't have to mean death to a fun Spring Break. How about scheduling a movie day? As a matter of fact, it would be a good idea to schedule it, just in case, even if not a drop of rain is in the week's weather forecast. Stock up on new and favorite kids' movies, make popcorn, pull out the cozy blankets, and cuddle up for some relaxing movie time. Surviving Spring Break can be relaxing too.

Go Camping -- Being a SAHM gives you the opportunity to schedule family vacations whenever the kids are out of school. Take advantage of Spring Break by planning a family camping trip. With the cooler temperatures and blooming nature all around there is plenty to explore without the sweltering summer heat to make everyone miserable. Out in the forest you can get up close and personal with survival of the fittest. It's a good thing you only need to survive Spring Break!

Plan a Family Garden -- Spring Break gives the SAHM the perfect opportunity to involve children in planning a family garden. Fresh fruits and vegetables are an important part of summer, making it both fun and nutritious. Have the kids make lists of their favorite fruits and vegetables, and then helping you narrow down the lists to things that everyone will love and a couple of new veggies you'd like them to try. Have the kids help you mark off the garden area, work the ground, and choose where the best spot to plant each vegetable. Afterwards, make a gardening chore chart so that everyone gets to help with maintaining, watering, and later one, harvesting.

Remember -- Remember that it's only one week. Have fun spending time with your children, watching the wonder in their eyes at the world around them, and reveling in the fact that you're there for them and able to enjoy seeing them grow and learn. Spring Break will be over soon enough, and then you'll be faced with the real challenge of all moms: SUMMER VACATION.

By planning and preparing for Spring Break in advance, and making sure that there aren't many "I'm bored!" moments, you'll be providing your children with a Spring Break they won't soon forget and giving yourself the advantage of still be sane by the time they go back to school. Enjoy the time with your children and then sit back in wonder at the fact that you have survived yet another Spring Break.

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