Summer Holidays - Play all day!

Medhini doing her bit!

Manasvi cleaning the windows!

The schools are closed and the girls are enjoying their summer vacation.  The summer break is truly a time for relaxing and enjoying life.  As children, I am sure all of us used to  look forward to this 2 month break and spend our time playing all day long with friends and cousins.  I can see the same happening with my 12-year old elder daughter.

The neighbourhood that we live in has a lot of kids pretty much the same age as Manasvi.  So it is day long play time for her.  If I need to see her, it can only be during mealtimes - she has a quick breakfast and is out of the house; she is back home in time for lunch.  My otherwise slow eater of a daughter now finishes her lunch in record time and rushes out to join her friends.  The next time she is home, I can set the clock to 4:30 PM - tea time.  After a cup of milk and raiding the larder for a tea-time snack, she is back on the street to play Lagori, Kings or any other game that she and her friends are keen to play that day. After a long day of play, she is tired and strolls back home by 7:00 pm, picks up the TV remote, and chants out loudly -"Ma, I am hungry....what is for dinner?"   We followed this "heavenly" routine for two days, but of course, there is always a villain in every happy situation and this time, it came in the form of MOM.   I laid out a few rules to be followed -

1. A small chore to be done everyday -this could be cleaning the bookshelf /cupboard, cleaning the windows, watering the plants, washing the school bag...  this way, I hope to get her involved in all forms of labour and not resent doing certain jobs.

2. Spend more time on reading books  and a little less on watching TV

We have been able to follow this routine and it is a win-win for both of us.  Manasvi was especially thrilled today while cleaning the windows.  Our neighbour watched her do the job and was all praise for her.  He appreciated her effort and wished his own grand daughter would try and emulate her.  Manasvi's face lit up with pride while her Mom's face beamed with satisfaction and of course, the glass that she was cleaning took on a brighter shine!

Having fun while performing the chore!