8 Ways to Survive School Vacation When You are a Working Mom

It's that time of year again and the children are screaming with delight that they have a whole week off of school. And then they hear the word they dread more than shots at the doctor: CAMP. That is right, they believe they are the only children on earth who are forced to endure camp during school vacation week. For five very long years I have had to hear:

"we are the only kids in the whole school who don't go on vacation or who don't get to just hang out at home."

"it's so unfair that you work. why do you have to be a working mommy?"

"this camp is awful; we hate it;"

"why? why mommy why? why can't you take the week off? 

In case the endless whines and pleas weren't bad enough, I also have a hard time finding actual camps and when I do it has hours that are less than accommodating for a full-time, 40+ hours a week working mom.  So what's a parent to do? Here are some survival tips that help me get by.

1. Research. Find camps that will give your kids a chance to do something new and exciting. And if that fails, harass the parents of your kids' friends to see what they are doing. You can at least say you tried. 
2. Deny. When you realize your children were right and that they appear to be the only kids in their grade at school going to camp, deny you even asked the question.  In fact, it's better not to ask. Plausible deniability is key here.
3. Beg. Try to beg their friends' parents into sending their beloved child to camp so you can add it as a selling point. When they look at you like a desperate fool, keep that head high and laugh it off that you were just kidding. 
4. Try reverse guilt. They've made you feel guilty, but you are the parent and still have tricks up your sleeve. Point out that you've had to use up all your vacation already to take off of work early for this sporting event and that. With two kids playing multiple sports, managing their schedules and my work load actually feels like two full time jobs (and this is with us trying to be sure they aren't over scheduled). 
5. Oversell. Point out all the really awesome things about whatever camp they are going to. Show them the positives and do this on such a regular basis that you are training their brains to only think about the good things when the topic of said camp comes up. 
6. Ramp up lunch.  Spring for the hot lunch, buy the bag of chips and unhealthy, inorganic juice box. Make it something of a treat week. Yes, yes, nutrition is important and I also constantly have to hear about how the lunches we pack are too healthy and that this isn't fair. So play off that and make them feel like this is somehow special. Maybe not everyday, but at least on the first day! 
7. Rock out. Drive to camp blaring their favorite music while you sing a long with wild abandon. This serves two purposes: it puts the kids in a silly, happy (albeit slightly embarrassed) mood and it also means the music volume is turned up so loud that if they are complaining you can't hear it. 
8. Buy wine. Or beer, or whatever is your indulgent drink of choose. Stock up in the week leading up to school vacation. Depending on the situation you might need enough to get you through the actual week, but usually I find once they get there they have a ton of fun, make new friends, and get to try something that challenges them to grow. 

Every year it is the same. They make me feel so guilty that I work that I can't even begin to imagine how I'll get through the summer, let alone the week. Then magically at the end of day one they are brimming with excitement to tell me all about their day. 

For my fellow parents in the trenches, good luck, I know you can do it too!