Lessons Learned over Spring Break

As the weather for Jordan and Jamie’s spring break was about as lovely as this week’s forecasted weather, we had to be very creative with what type of outings we would take and how many play dates we could squeeze in.

With so many indoor activities and play dates, Jim and I had the opportunity to observe and overhear many more conversations and exchanges than usual, as we were almost always in earshot of the kids.

What we learned was quite eye opening, so I thought I would share a few of our favorite observations:

1) Children Do Not Have Filters

As most elementary school teachers will tell you, children aged twelve and under lack any form of social filter, especially when it comes to discussing their families’ cares and woes: Misbehaving siblings, dads who spend too much time on the couch and moms who are always crabby are the tamest and mildest stories we heard. Be warned: To most children, your family’s life is an open book to be shared with all.

And, oh yes, if you think telling your children that a subject is private and not to be shared, you are practically begging them to broadcast the news over the school P.A. system. Children simply cover themselves with the blanket mea culpa  “Please don’t tell my mom/dad that I told you this.”

2) Children Can Be Sneaky

Shocking, I know. This revelation led Jim and I to only allow Jordan and Jamie to touch the computer keyboard when friends were over.

Why? Children who are grounded from the computer at home do not readily confess this fact when at a friend’s house, and will exploit the opportunity to check their Facebook page, maybe play a round or two of Angry Birds, or worse yet, view something on YouTube their older sibling loves but they are not allowed to watch. This record will not show on their own home computer’s history, making it appear they are self-policing and not using their own computer. Like I said, pretty sneaky.

3) Family Pets Are Performance Artists

As all Dralle family members and friends know where Buck, Alle and Sparky’s pet treats are kept, new visitors are great audience members to snag treats from for doing nothing more than looking cute and/or hungry.

Our dog Buck has looking like he hasn’t been fed in years down to an Oscar-worthy performance, and cats Alle and Sparky have tumbling runs that would make Cirque du Soleil Vegas acts look amateurish.

To keep our critters from blowing up like goldfish, all pet treats are hidden before friends come over to play.

4) Sleepovers Have Nothing to do with Sleep at Our House

When on Spring and Christmas breaks, we allow Jordan and Jamie to stay up past their normal bedtimes, watch movies and play videogames, which they have now learned to compensate for by sleeping in late. But some of their friends are still programmed to wake up early, regardless of what time they went to bed at the sleepover.

The solution? Sleepover friends now know where all the breakfast food is located, and where the family room tv remote can be found. I’m no longer surprised to wake up and find my ‘other’ children eating breakfast while my kids are still upstairs sawing wood.

5) Not All Children Behave Equally

I know, another shocker. While we are very fortunate that Jordan and Jamie have very polite and well-behaved friends where we live now, that was not always the case.

So friends were divided into two groups: Inside and outside friends. Inside friends had great manners, were well behaved and we knew their parents well. Outside friends, while fun to play with, would treat our house like an upholstered jungle gym, jumping on furniture, climbing the outside of our staircase to the second floor landing, terrorizing pets and tempting our children to follow them down the merry path to misbehavior.

By the end of spring break, all the children, including ours, became outside friends as cabin fever set in. Should your children be home this week for Spring Break, may these lessons help provide some insight and humor to deal with the days ahead.

Just think, summer break is just around the corner …