Spring Break With Kids

When you have kids, spring break has a whole new meaning.

Remember when the words 'spring break' would bring a smile to your lips and a twinkle to your eye?

When the phrase brought to mind bikinis, Florida, beach volleyball, long days and late nights?

Yeah, well, welcome to parenthood. Those days are gone, mommy.

Now, when you hear spring break, you might instead think: kids sleeping in too late, whining about having nothing to do, playing too many video games, and watching too much TV. Of course, all of their friends - everyone on the planet, actually - are gone to European vacations, cruises and Disney World. Your kids are the only ones stuck home with mom, who is still grumpy about the demise of her college days and the fact that she can't wear a bikini anymore.

So what to do with kids on spring break?

First off, get them up at a reasonable time and stay on some type of schedule. You can make the week off school fun without making it totally slothful.

Secondly, do some of the fun things that you don't have time or space to fit into your regular school-year schedule. Find ideas for spring break activities in Spring Break Ideas for Kids.

Lastly, prepare yourself for the day your kids grow up, go to college and announce that they're going to Florida for spring break with 20 friends.

Now, is it so bad having little ones home for a week?