Summer Enrichment brings Enlightenment | Meg-a-Mom
Bonita Springs — Do you ever have those days when you are meeting absolutely nobody’s expectations, not even your own?
When your 4-year-old wakes up and says, “I love Daddy the most and you the last.” It’s your day to bring the snack to school and somebody at your house polished off the snacks you purchased. You can’t fit into the dress slacks that make you look the thinnest and then you spill coffee on your favorite white shirt. Then you get called into the principal’s office when you drop your child at school because you are missing a health form in her file. A client decides to go with someone else instead of you. The sky opens up and sends a little rain cloud to follow you around all morning.
Those are the days you wish you could pack it all in and crawl under the covers. But, you are a parent and you have to be awesome.
I had that day last week. So, I called in backup, a woman who I think is Superwoman and who always sends me strength when I need it. This friend of mine has raised her two girls and now has four grandchildren. She works, fishes, builds schools in Africa and is a culinary master in her free time. And, it turns out, she was having the same day I was, times 10!
Her advice to me, “get your daughter enrolled in some great summer programs and spend some time cultivating yourself.”
I’m sometimes a little hard on myself. When I am at work I feel guilty that I’m not spending enough time with my daughter. When I’m with my daughter I feel like I should be working. But, after taking the advice of some of the other supermoms that I know, I have figured out that finding my daughter activities that she loves enriches her life. And, dusting off those little pieces of myself that have been stored away, makes me a better mom.
My daughter and I are happy because our lives are full. We stop being so grouchy and enjoy the time that we have together. Plus, she loves teaching me all about the new things she has learned and I earn Meg-a-Mom points when I am an expert on something she just discovered.
So, in order to help all of you other superhero parents out there, I have put together a list of a few of the places in Bonita where kids can go to find enrichment this summer. Then, when they are happy, you can concentrate on work, self or whatever it takes to make you a super parent.
If you know of any great summer activities in Bonita, send them to me at meghan@swspotlight.com and I will add them to our list online at swspotlight.com.
Meg-a-Mom’s secret identity is Meghan Easterly; a writer, editor, photographer and all-around supermom living in Bonita Springs who can be reached at meghan@swspotlight.com.
