How We Juggled Our Daughter for an Afternoon Escape

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A couple of years ago—an eternity in kid time—my partner Alex and I embraced a delightful weekend tradition. Every Sunday, we’d hire a babysitter to keep an eye on Mia, our then 3-year-old, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. We’d indulge in brunch, stroll through our Brooklyn neighborhood hand in hand, take our dog for a game of Frisbee, and most importantly, reconnect after a hectic week of juggling work and family obligations.

Those three hours felt like a prelude to an afternoon of intimacy, as we’d return home at 1 p.m. sharp, tuck Mia in for her nap, and then retreat to the bedroom for some much-needed quality time. Ah, those were the days—until Mia decided that napping was for babies, and our little ritual crumbled.

Fast forward a few years. Mia is now 5 and in kindergarten, and both Alex and I are working from home as freelancers. We scramble to complete our tasks before her 2:45 dismissal, with one of us dedicating time to her afterward. Our budget is tight, but the trade-off of spending time with Mia during school hours is worth it. However, when school breaks roll around, it’s a different story.

This past April, as spring break approached, we felt the familiar dread of parents who can’t splurge on vacations or babysitters (and our usual evening sitters were tied up with day jobs). A week spent with Mia at home? Oh boy!

In our frantic search for playdates and Netflix movies for her, an email from her school popped up. They were offering a spring break camp! Excitement bubbled among the other parents as they discussed which days to enroll their children. “Sophia’s going to Zoo Tuesday, Bowling Thursday, and Movie Friday!” one mom wrote. “Oliver’s joining too!” another chimed in. I decided we could manage two days of camp.

Mia chose Arts & Crafts Wednesday—a day filled with creative activities (her absolute favorite), a playground trip, and planting in the school garden that sealed the deal for her. But by the time I signed up, the bowling slots were filled, so I paid $90 for Wednesday, relieved that Mia could enjoy at least one day of fun.

Then it hit me—Alex and I deserved a day of our own fun too. After all, it was spring break! I told him to clear his calendar for “Foreplay Day Date and Sex Wednesday.”

As spring break kicked off and after two days of Mia being home, we were all ready for camp. Yet, everything felt off when we arrived at the school. No signs pointed us to the camp, and as we entered, we found a near-empty cafeteria with a clipboard for sign-in, but no counselors in sight.

“Shouldn’t there be some kind of supervision?” Alex whispered, eyeing the sparse adults in the back.

“Maybe they’re just running late,” I replied, trying to stay optimistic.

In front of us were stations with crayons, sticks, and blocks, and I silently prayed to my agnostic deity: Please let this be a temporary setup until things get rolling with real activities.

With smiles plastered on our faces, we encouraged Mia to pick up some crayons and draw. She complied half-heartedly as we hugged her goodbye, leaving without a single adult noticing.

Once outside, I remarked, “That was a bit disheartening.”

Alex took my hand. “She’ll be fine.”

“Seriously, anyone could walk in and take a kid and no one would even notice,” I worried.

“Hey, we’ve taken enough hits for her; she can handle one day,” he said, and with that, we set aside our guilt and began our much-anticipated day date.

We strolled, had breakfast, and popped open some prosecco we saved for this occasion. Time slipped away in our bliss, but soon enough, it was time to pick up Mia. At least this time, we knew where to go.

Mia rushed to us, crying, “Mommy! Daddy!” We hugged her tightly, and she excitedly waved goodbye to a new friend she had made.

“So, how was it?” I asked eagerly.

With a big sigh, she said, “Not so great.”

“Oh no. Why not?” I questioned, feeling deflated.

She replied, “We didn’t plant anything, and we didn’t do arts and crafts.”

“Didn’t you go to the playground?” Alex asked.

“Yeah, but it just felt like a really long day,” Mia replied, her enthusiasm waning.

A wave of post-fun guilt washed over me, and I mentally drafted a complaint email for a refund. However, by dinner, Mia had bounced back, and I realized the school, despite this hiccup, deserved our support.

Today marks the start of Mia’s summer break, which is essentially spring break stretched across eight weeks! This time, she’ll attend a camp in July, and I know she’ll love it—not just because it’s not in her school cafeteria, but because we checked it out beforehand and it was absolutely fantastic.

Next April, when first-grade spring break arrives, Mia will still attend the school camp, but with a few adjustments:

  • I’ll sign her up faster than a hot knife through butter.
  • She’ll participate only in field trip days.
  • I’ll stock up on two bottles of prosecco instead of one!

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Summary

The author reflects on how a spring break camp for their daughter turned into an opportunity for a much-needed day of connection and intimacy for her and her partner. Despite the camp’s shortcomings, they make adjustments for the next school break and look forward to summer camp adventures for their daughter, all while sharing valuable resources related to home insemination.

Keyphrase: Home Insemination Kit

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