Hi moms, my ten year old daughter goes between her dad's house and my house week to week over the summer. I am struggling with trying to find things for her to do over the summer. things we have looked at are scheduled in two week sessions and since her dad lives in Naperville and works he can't/won't take her to "camp" near River Grove where I live. Does anyone have any ideas for things I can sign her up for without wasting the money on a week she won't be there for?
Christian Youth Theatre has a High School Musical camp which is one week long. (www.cytchicago.org)
There are multiple locations for this camp.
I know that the YMCA in Downers Grove has summer camp which you can specify which weeks care is needed, so maybe the other YMCA's do, too.
Best wishes-don't let the other comments get to you...all adult relationships are complicated. God never disappoints and He puts up with us and loves us anyway.
Hi L.,
Please check out my website, www.kidwinks.com - it's The site to know with kids in tow. There, you can find kid-friendly events, activities, restaurants (there's even a Kids Eat Free calendar in the Restaurant section where you can find out where kids eat free), shops and services throughout the Chicago area and suburbs.
In the Services section you can look through the camps listed; I don't know if any are by the week. But if you become a member of kidwinks, which is free, you can sort the camps in order of distance from your house. Same with activities and events.
You can read parents' reviews of places they've visited and write your own (if you become a member, which is free). Check the box to join our mailing list, and we'll do the work for you on finding fun things to do - we'll email to you weekly links to upcoming fun, family-friendly events. We've received tremendous positive response to our emails - moms love them!
Hope this helps. Good luck!
J.
Starland in Deerfield ###-###-#### has week-long camps in fashion, legomation, and more. They do a great job if you can make it to Deerfield.
Otherwise I'd suggest park district stuff which is so cheap it doesn't matter if you miss some... or just getting a city pass and going from museum to museum etc. in Chicago.
I am assuming the dad is a rather unreasonable person, otherwise he would work it out so it was in two week intervals for the summer and that way it would benefit him also. I mean what does he do with her when he is working? I hope he doesn't leave her alone. Anyway, just sprouting off with the mouth. Sometimes these programs will work it out and let you just bring her a week at a time if you explain the situation. Otherwise you might as well tell Dad to help you eat the cost for the second week that he won't take her. Of course once again I am assuming he is unreasonable and won't do that either. I didn't read your post yet so I am not sure what your life is about but it sounds like you are lucky you aren't with the man. Forgive me if you are still best friends and just couldn't work out being together. Having been through this before myself, all I can say is that somewhere in this you will either have to make him understand how unreasonable he is or eat the cost. Ten is still too young to be wandering around and there are so many programs out there. Perhaps a free library program would help when she is with you and then he can pay or whatever he does when he has her. I know how hard this is. Wish I could help better. I am going to be thinking about this though...
Hi L.,
it's a little hard to suggest things since it sounds like it is a complicated relationship...
but...
can you suggest an alternative schdeule for the summer in which she would switch houses every 2weeks instead? If he works and therefore can't take her to camp, what is he planning for her to do at his house anyway? would she go to work with him? or has he found a camp/activity that is close to him? if yes - see if you can coordinate on the dates based on the camps (what makes sense for your daughter to have a positive experience) instead of sticking to the existing schedule. Agai I don't know how rigid he is or the terms of your custody, but that's the best I could think of...
good luck!
OM
