Parenting tips to survive the summer?

Question

Need parenting tips/motivation in order to survive the SUMMER?

Please?? My kids are between ages 15 to 9. Overall they are good kids, no big huge problems...but having them home all day during the summer is a real pain. All they do is complain, whine, argue, moan..I loathe the summer break.

As a kid, my mother always worked and I was left to stay home alone which led to me getting into aLOT of trouble..I didnt want that for them so I am staying home with them but I find that I am going crazy and its only 4 days into break. I do have activities planned but it doesnt take up all day everyday. I just dont know what to do...Are my kids just brats? Did I set a bad example and raised them to be negative or is this normal? I see other families who look like they laugh and have fun together --- this is NOT mine. My kids are miserable if they all have to be in the car together. I feel like all I have done is correct them and tell them to stop since they got off of school.

For example,

Answer 1

plan even more events. get them involved in certain clubs or sports. go to the pool, or get a pool. take them to the movies sometime, and suprise them with random events like put-put golfing, etc..

maybe plan a certain day to go to the library. like-- every monday

stay strong for your kids! they probably aren't as miserable as you think. take time to care for yourself too. like, once a month take a trip to a spa, or to get your nails done.

hope this summer is ok for you :]