Workhorse Whitney
A deadline for a big project is looming, and it never fails that Whitney heads home an hour late with a stack of files on her passenger seat. She attends baseball games in power suits, and the Whole Foods hot bar is her saving grace for healthy, fast dinners. Whitney lives for the weekends when she can carve out time to really hang out with her kids and trade her heels for Tory Burch flats.
When it comes to summer, she's had the forms to fill out for camp, but somehow they ended up in the linen closet—and the deadline was three days ago. Whitney hoped to connect with her long-time baby-sitter, but they missed each other at last week's tennis lesson. As of right now, she's fretting about where her kids will be this summer and whether they will miss out on activities and memories.
What to do: Take a deep breath and know that it's not the end of the world if your kids aren't doing the same camps as Emily's kids. Send a text message to the sitter—even if it interrupts your dinner—and start exploring other options for camp.
The school office and closest YMCA might have some leads, and local churches might offer Club House worship services. And, don't think you have to do it all yourself. Recruit your partner or the grandparents to help get things squared away.
Laid-Back Luke
Luke's favorite phrase is "It'll all work out." Why stress about things when you can take a few deep breaths and head to a 90-minute yoga class?
When it comes to summer, Luke doesn't want one thing on the schedule. If the kids want to swim, they'll head to the pool. If they want to ride bikes, they'll strap on a helmet and head for the trails. An impromptu road trip to the mountains? There's nothing better.
What to do: While a carefree summer may hearken back to the glory days of some parents, a little structure will benefit both parents and children. Sit down with your kids and ask them what they would like to accomplish by the end of the summer.
Maybe you can better plan that impromptu trip to the mountains, and the family can work together to get ready for an age-appropriate yet challenging hike.
Find summer camps near you.
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