More Input on Relating to Teens/Tweens in your Super Busy Life

I received this input from a super busy mom from Boston about how she and her husband manage the summer schedule for their daughters. Thought it might be useful for you....


Thanx for your article on Relating to your Tween/Teen in Your Super Busy Life. It's such a universal parent dilemma. Now that my daughters (ages 12 and 10) are out of school for the summer, we enter the juggling of "who's watching the kids and what are they doing." We're extremely fortunate that my niece, sisters and in-laws pitch in with child care. My husband and I both worth full time. I've asked my girls to keep a list of things they can/want to do and even with whom they'd like to do the activity. Hopefully, my girls won't feel disappointed (or less so) that they'd like to do an activity and we're not there to do it --knowing that when we have the time together, we'll do it. Also, it gives them more control over what they are doing with their parents and aunts, their 20-something cousin and their 70-something grandparents. With their limited time on the computer I ask them to visit the websites for certain activities (i.e. the museum), look at what it's about, how much time we'll need, coupons, etc. They are conscience, too, of the different things they can enjoy (and maybe cannot do - because of physical or monetary limitations) with their different caregivers.


Judith B. Ercolini
E-mail: jercolini@comcast.net