Yay for summer camp!
Last year we didn't end up sending our daughter to any summer school or camp simply because the summer school (the English one) was very expensive and I could not really find a good other option at the time, simply because it's not advertised as well here, or when it is, it's done very last minute.
As this year a friendly guy handed my boyfriend a flyer when picking up our daughter from school, which was for swimming classes, but at a location where they have a hostel and hold summer camps, I thought I could check to see what's offered there. For two weeks in a row we went to this campsite and I felt this was a great place for her to spend some weeks in summer, also taking off some of the pressure for me to keep her busy during the day. The site has direct access to the beach as well as their own pool and lots of fun stuff on site.
In general, my best hours are in the morning before it gets too hot, as being in my last trimester of pregnancy, it turns out even these hours until 2 PM are often too much to ask from my body, especially when I start some chores with excitement and rush into getting them done, my body will at some point tell me to stop and then I'm done for some hours and can do nothing else but rest. I hate admitting it but it's getting heavy right now.
Heat wave
We are facing a heatwave, which I already struggle with normally but right now, I can't even bring to words how often I almost passed out from being in a hot kitchen for a bit too long and then not being able to cool down my body without any help. My saviour in the past weeks: a dog cooling mat!
Yes, you read it correctly: a cooling mat for dogs. My boyfriend saw it at a budget store and thought maybe it would make me happy and he was so right, 6 euros so well spent! At least 5 times I was about to pass out from the heat, and only the AC was not enough anymore, so had to put that mat on the sofa, sit on it, drink water and wait for my body to cool down. I've been extremely grateful for this super simple but helpful gesture of him bringing it home that day.
Happy kid, happy parents
While my boyfriend has to work during the day, I do too but I can just take it slow, don't worry about talking to anyone or move things forward when needed, it's hard for me to also keep the little girl happy. Last week she only had 1 day at school left and then holiday really started, some days were easy, others were overwhelming as she keeps forgetting I'm struggling with the heat more than average right now.
My boyfriend is fully focussed on his work during the day, often in (long) meetings, so he can't have her constantly asking questions or chatting around him so sending her off to summer camp during the regular school hours for some weeks seemed like the best babysit option available. It only comes down to €2,50 an hour and it will give me the freedom to spend the most productive hours of my days productive, when the heat allows it, of course.
She was excited to go, for the first time she had her big backpack on her back filled with the needed change of clothes, swimsuit, towels, lunch etc. Normally these kids at the primary schools walk with trolleys and don't have to carry these backpacks on their backs, what a luxury we didn't have growing up! It was funny to see her with that huge backpack on the back for once, lol.
I bet she had fun!
We're going to pick her up soon and probably hear about how fun it was because I saw the schedule for this week and they have loads of fun stuff planned. I'm happy we booked her 5 weeks of this. I'm a bit sad that I can't be the one bringing her or picking her up (by myself at least) with this heat wave that adds to my pain and how I feel in general but thankfully bringing her there is faster than the regular school drop and pick offs so my boyfriend said he'd do it. I'm lucky that he can though as the agreement was I do one of the drives and he will do the other. While booking I didn't order a heat wave and so much pain with it though, lol.
Did you ever send your kids to a summer camp? I think unless you have some summer holiday house somewhere where you spend your summer, it's a bit of a necicity here with the summer lasting 12 weeks. If it goes well this year, I may send her there for some more weeks as this camp is open all summer.
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I admire your strength, not just in managing the practical side of things like finding a camp and organizing everything for your daughter, but also in staying emotionally present for her while carrying so much in your last trimester. You deeply care about creating a joyful and safe summer for your kid, even while navigating physical exhaustion, the challenges of pregnancy, and the overwhelming heat. That dog cooling mat story made me smile. It’s those simple, thoughtful gestures that speak volumes about love and support in a relationship.
Your daughter is so lucky to have parents who go the extra mile for her happiness. And seeing her march off with that big backpack must have been one of those bittersweet moments where you realize how fast she’s growing, right? I hope she comes home with the brightest stories, and you get a bit of well-deserved rest while she’s at camp.
Wishing you cool breezes, gentle days, and the easiest third trimester possible. You’re doing amazing, mommy. 💛
Ah that's such a sweet comment, thank you so much <3
It's not easy at the moment, won't lie, but having her at summer camp half of the day helps a lot to make sure she can release her energy instead of being bound inside most of the times because I prefer to lock myself up when it's too hot.
!LADY
sending hugs 💞
She's doing great, too and yes, kids need physical activities.
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I really felt your story. Thanks for sharing so honest. As a mom, I can relate to find a right balance between caring our kids and also caring ourselves, especially in the heat or during pregnancy. Sometimes, as moms, we forget that it's okay ask for help and accept support. You're doing an amazing job mommy, and your daughter will remember these happy summer days for the years to come.
Wishing you strength and comfort in these final weeks of pregnancy - may you find little moments of rest and joy each day. You're not alone mommy, your doing better than you think. God bless you.