I don’t know about you, but this summer is flying by WAY too quickly.  There are only a few weeks left in July…What??  We have made lots of fun memories this summer, but I have lots more fun to check off before we get back to school.

Here are a few things I have learned from my tween this summer;

- His little brain gets rusty when he is away from school too long.  I need to keep up on math especially or he will forget.

- He LOVES The Magic Tree House series.  He will read them over and over again and never gets bored of them.

- He needs structure even if life is crazy and we travel and have visitors….when we get back to our ‘normal life’ he needs structure immediately.

- If he runs around barefoot too much, his little feet start to get all dry and crackly.  We have to keep them moisturized so he can spend another day running around barefoot.

- He needs quiet time every day.  Even if he fights it, he is alot happier when he has it.

- It isn’t fun to be outside in the heat for him if there is not water involved.  He gets hot and grumpy and tired….it isn’t fun!

- He loves meeting new friends and laughing and playing with friends as often as possible.

- He has a blast with his sisters, even though they fight, they really love each other and at times make the happiest memories together.

What are some of the things you have learned about your tween this summer?

What is it that I love so much about a pair of dirty tennis shoes or jeans with grass stains for my tween?  To me, it is a symbol of an active, happy boy.  Don’t get me wrong, I love when my kids look nice.  When we go out it is pretty important to me that they are pulled together.  But when it is play time……I let all of that go.

My tween loves playing video games, but I do all in my power to keep him outdoors playing as often as possible.  On many of these summer days, you can find us in our backyard with a baby pool or sprinkler running.  I try to have friends over as often as possible for my tween so he can be off playing.  He has two sisters and they can’t always keep up with his active little spirit. 

When I was a kid, we would spend the summer days down at the creek close to our home.  It was such a fun place to be.  Unfortunately, times have changed and I struggle to even let my tween ride his bike around the block with his friends.   I am a very protective mother this way.  Because of this, I try and do all in my power to create fun memories for my tween.  I can’t let him ride down to the creek with his friends, but I can have lots of fun activities planned to let him get his shoes dirty, get big grass stains oh his knees and have his cute face covered in happy, messy memories.

What are your kids doing this summer?

Since the girls are on their extended Christmas break, I have been thinking of ways to keep them from “vegging” out during their break.  I don’t want the first week back in school to be an absolutely nightmarish battle so here’s what I’ve come up with so far.

Trip number one will be the aquarium.  It should be great; not only is it off-season, but a lot of people will be going out of town so I’m hoping it won’t be very crowded.  I’m going to try and schedule a “behind-the-scenes” tour.  That way the girls can see how much work goes into taking care of all the critters at the aquarium. 

I also plan on taking a trek to the USS North Carolina in Wilmington.  They have some activities aboard the ship specifically for children.  I think it would be fun to get out of town for a day.  I believe the girls would get a kick out of being on such a huge “boat.”  Speaking of getting out of the house, Tryon Palace offers a Winter Wednesday workshop for kids and their parents.  During this time, their website says that kids can get “hands on with history.”  The main thrust of Winter Wednesday is domestic skills and getting a grasp on the daily life in the 18th century.  I’d also like to take them to see the gardens (well, more me than them!)

What do you do with your kids over long breaks to keep their minds moving and prevent boredom from setting in?  Share your ideas!

For those who are new to the area, there is a wealth of fun stuff to do in Onslow County when it comes to tweens.  First and foremost, may I mention the beach (where, when I hit the lottery, I’m going to live.)  For military dependents, there’s Onslow Beach on base.  They have cabanas (which are great for birthday parties), a small store, and even low-cost beach rentals.  There’s also Emerald Isle, which is full of great stores, good food, and beautiful beach.  Finally, there is Topsail/Surf City (I like to take the girls here because the waves don’t seem to be as big, the water is a little bit more calm) which again has some great places to eat, some awesome shops and great sand and sun.  I also love the sea turtle rescue there.  They will let you tour their facility during certain hours.  It’s downright mystifying.  Myrtle Beach is only an hour and a half away.  In addition, it’s great to go north into the Outer Banks to see the lighthouses. 

For those tweens who are into history, the USS North Carolina is a short drive to Wilmington.  They offer tours on a daily basis which are both interesting and educational.   Carteret County is the home to Fort Macon, a Civil War battle site.  They, too, offer tours and the park is right there for those parents and tweens who are into nature. 

Speaking of nature, there is a plethora of outdoor activities that my family enjoys doing.  First and foremost on that list is kayaking.  Sand Dollar and Bear Island are great places to go and find beautiful shells and see pristine beaches.  The fishing in Onslow County is second to none and the kids absolutely love to go for the day (except we never keep any fish to eat).  The Croatan is right down the road and is wonderful for walking and hiking. 

What places do you and your tweens frequent?  Any fun activities to do?  Please, share with us.