Latest news with #summerbreaks
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
I'm letting my kids sleep in, look at screens, and do absolutely nothing all summer. I want them to enjoy lazy days while they can.
When I was young, I enjoyed lazy, golden summer breaks. I want my kids to have restful, easy summers, too. I know this time can't last forever, but that just makes me want to enjoy it even more. Growing up in South Florida, summer breaks were a blur of pool days, sleepovers, mall trips, and a lot of sleeping in. My days fell into an easy rhythm: I'd roll out of bed around noon, toss on a swimsuit, grab a Diet Pepsi and a granola bar, then flop into a lounge chair by the pool. Afternoons were spent reading and swimming laps, and in the evening, I could be found on the phone or hanging out with friends until curfew. I got my first part-time job the year I turned 16, and my schedule shifted around work hours. But I still slept in whenever I could and spent a ridiculous amount of time on the phone when I wasn't working or practicing my driving. I remember those summers as relaxed, carefree, and fun — three months of doing whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. My parents rolled their eyes when I was still in bed at lunchtime, but it was the 1980s — helicopter parenting wasn't a thing. As long as I did my chores, I was golden. And so were my summers. We're four weeks into summer break, and I'm happy to report my kids have settled into their own version of a 1980s summer. Some people call it "kid rot" — lounging around on screens, staying up until midnight, and generally doing a whole lot of nothing. But as an older mom, it feels just about perfect to me. My kids aren't attending camps or academic programs, and I have (almost) no guilt about letting them sleep in as late as they want. In fact, I want them to enjoy these long, lazy days with no agenda. Soon enough, they'll be headed back to school, to SATs and geometry class, to clubs, part-time jobs, and volunteer hours. After that, they'll be off to college, jobs, and a busy life that leaves no room for weeks and weeks of downtime. Knowing these lazy days of summer can't last is one reason they're so special. As we get closer to the start of school, I'll start nudging my sons to go to bed earlier and crack open the summer reading they've ignored since May. I'll begin tugging gently on the loose boundaries that this season has allowed. They'll push back — of course they will — and there will be late nights come September when they think they can stay up past midnight and still function at 7 a.m. My kids will learn, like I did, that summer's easy, breezy flow doesn't carry over into the structure of a jam-packed school year. They'll wistfully say, "I miss summer," and I will silently agree as I send them off to school — backpacks full of books, folders, goals, dreams, and the first hints of their future just coming into view. My kids' summers have always looked like this — relaxed days and mostly empty schedules, aside from the occasional beach or lake trip. I've spent years feeling vaguely guilty that I haven't packed their break with classes and camps and educational field trips. But then I remind myself that we live in a culture that glorifies being busy, where self-worth is often tied to paychecks and accomplishments. Even being truly at rest takes effort — rearranging personal and professional schedules and front-loading or back-loading work just to steal a few days of true downtime. I think back to my younger self — happily sleeping in, reading for hours, or lounging by the pool with no goal beyond a Coppertone tan — and I wonder what changed. When did a four-day weekend start to feel decadent and undeserved? When did I start calling it a "vacation week" if I only put in 20 hours of freelance work and checked off a couple of big chores? I'm trying to relearn how to relax while letting my kids do what still comes naturally to them. I'm less focused on preparing them for the "real world" than I am on giving them memories of a carefree summer spent resetting and refueling. This isn't "rot" to me — it's the kind of downtime that gives them space to think, dream, and even get bored. They need it — and I'm reminding myself, so do I. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
I'm letting my kids sleep in, look at screens, and do absolutely nothing all summer. I want them to enjoy lazy days while they can.
When I was young, I enjoyed lazy, golden summer breaks. I want my kids to have restful, easy summers, too. I know this time can't last forever, but that just makes me want to enjoy it even more. Growing up in South Florida, summer breaks were a blur of pool days, sleepovers, mall trips, and a lot of sleeping in. My days fell into an easy rhythm: I'd roll out of bed around noon, toss on a swimsuit, grab a Diet Pepsi and a granola bar, then flop into a lounge chair by the pool. Afternoons were spent reading and swimming laps, and in the evening, I could be found on the phone or hanging out with friends until curfew. I got my first part-time job the year I turned 16, and my schedule shifted around work hours. But I still slept in whenever I could and spent a ridiculous amount of time on the phone when I wasn't working or practicing my driving. I remember those summers as relaxed, carefree, and fun — three months of doing whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. My parents rolled their eyes when I was still in bed at lunchtime, but it was the 1980s — helicopter parenting wasn't a thing. As long as I did my chores, I was golden. And so were my summers. We're four weeks into summer break, and I'm happy to report my kids have settled into their own version of a 1980s summer. Some people call it "kid rot" — lounging around on screens, staying up until midnight, and generally doing a whole lot of nothing. But as an older mom, it feels just about perfect to me. My kids aren't attending camps or academic programs, and I have (almost) no guilt about letting them sleep in as late as they want. In fact, I want them to enjoy these long, lazy days with no agenda. Soon enough, they'll be headed back to school, to SATs and geometry class, to clubs, part-time jobs, and volunteer hours. After that, they'll be off to college, jobs, and a busy life that leaves no room for weeks and weeks of downtime. Knowing these lazy days of summer can't last is one reason they're so special. As we get closer to the start of school, I'll start nudging my sons to go to bed earlier and crack open the summer reading they've ignored since May. I'll begin tugging gently on the loose boundaries that this season has allowed. They'll push back — of course they will — and there will be late nights come September when they think they can stay up past midnight and still function at 7 a.m. My kids will learn, like I did, that summer's easy, breezy flow doesn't carry over into the structure of a jam-packed school year. They'll wistfully say, "I miss summer," and I will silently agree as I send them off to school — backpacks full of books, folders, goals, dreams, and the first hints of their future just coming into view. My kids' summers have always looked like this — relaxed days and mostly empty schedules, aside from the occasional beach or lake trip. I've spent years feeling vaguely guilty that I haven't packed their break with classes and camps and educational field trips. But then I remind myself that we live in a culture that glorifies being busy, where self-worth is often tied to paychecks and accomplishments. Even being truly at rest takes effort — rearranging personal and professional schedules and front-loading or back-loading work just to steal a few days of true downtime. I think back to my younger self — happily sleeping in, reading for hours, or lounging by the pool with no goal beyond a Coppertone tan — and I wonder what changed. When did a four-day weekend start to feel decadent and undeserved? When did I start calling it a "vacation week" if I only put in 20 hours of freelance work and checked off a couple of big chores? I'm trying to relearn how to relax while letting my kids do what still comes naturally to them. I'm less focused on preparing them for the "real world" than I am on giving them memories of a carefree summer spent resetting and refueling. This isn't "rot" to me — it's the kind of downtime that gives them space to think, dream, and even get bored. They need it — and I'm reminding myself, so do I. Read the original article on Business Insider
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Huge cost of airport parking this summer with travellers paying HUNDREDS for short stays
Holidaymakers jetting off on their summer breaks could be paying almost £200 for airport parking for just a four-day stay. And new data reveals that short-stay parking is almost 90 per cent more expensive in England than in Scotland. But there is an alternative that few realise works out cheaper, according to research from price comparison website – which says people are overpaying by not comparing their options. As millions of Britons prepare to head abroad for sunshine-filled breaks, many will be forking out to leave their car close to the terminals – with an average cost of £93.90 for four days in a short-stay car park. Four days in a long-stay option sees an average bill of £59. The most expensive parking was found at London City Airport, costing an eye-watering £189 for less than a week. However, a London City Airport spokesperson said that only 10 per cent of their passengers use a private car, and 'those that do use our car park enjoy being able to walk to our terminal from any area in a matter of minutes'. Prices were the lowest offered on the websites of UK airports across four dates, with two periods in August and two in October, covering a mixture of peak and off-peak, as well as weekends and weekdays. The rates fluctuate wildly across the country. Parking at airports in Scotland costs half as much as it does in England, with the latter coming in at 17 per cent higher than the UK average. Some smaller regional airports in Scotland even offer free parking, bringing the average cost down. Wales holds the unfortunate title of the most expensive average long-stay rate across the UK regions – £81, which is 93 per cent more expensive than Scotland's average. As well as comparing parking prices, a survey of 2,000 Brits revealed less than a quarter of those booking holidays compare the price of parking at the aviation hubs with booking a taxi. But this research found that holidaymakers spend on average a total of £92 for a taxi to and from the airport – often making them a more affordable option. Leaving the vehicle at home could relieve some of the anxiety around parking at the airport. A third of those surveyed worry about their car being damaged while parked, with 19 per cent concerned it could be stolen, while a third are concerned with the time it takes for them to reach the car park from the terminal. 'While airport parking is often convenient, the cost can be a challenge, especially during peak travel times. Many travellers might end up overpaying simply because they book too late or don't compare their options, said Alvaro Iturmendi, a travel insurance expert. The most expensive parking was found at London City Airport, costing an eye-watering £189 for less than a week 'Our research found that more than one in five (21 per cent) people cite driving and parking in an airport car park as their preferred airport transfer. 'So, finding ways to reduce the cost might make the choice even sweeter.' Being sure to book in advance, exploring off-site park and ride services and considering whether to split a taxi can reduce the burden of costs, Iturmendi added. 'Planning your airport transfer ahead of time, just like flights and accommodation, can make a big difference to your overall travel budget.' London City Airport has been contacted for comment. Earlier this year, bosses at Gatwick Airport – the UK's second-busiest airport – put forward plans to raise parking charges and drop-off fees to secure approval for a second runway. The proposals were part of a submission to the Planning Inspectorate, which had stated that Gatwick needs to ensure at least 54 per cent of travellers get there by public transport if it wants to expand its operations. The airport's chief executive said the main way to half the flow of people arriving in cars was to hike prices – especially since it has no control over the railways.
