Beach blues

As I shopped for groceries yesterday, I overheard two women talking about taking their kids to Disney World. I was expecting to hear how exciting it was. Instead, they discussed how “it’s not really a vacation,” “it’s too much work,” and how “by lunchtime, all of the adults are exhausted.” I didn’t want it to be true, but a part of me suspected it was so.

Last month, my husband and I took Olivia on her first trip and our first family vacation. We swapped the below-zero temperatures of New York for sunny Puerto Rico. We had been looking forward to the holiday for weeks and as much as I was excited to strip myself of my winter clothes, I was just as excited about experiencing this first with Olivia.

I was nervous, like most parents, about the plane ride. I booked the flights according to her sleep schedule. The trip there was a breeze. She slept the entire flight and not even a little pressure in the ears could dampen her mood. Success!

A day at the beach with children, however, is not necessarily a day at the beach. With our tot in tow, we headed to the popular beach of Isla Verde in San Juan. We settled into our beach chairs, ordered some cocktails, and tried to soak in the sun, especially since we wouldn’t be seeing any of it when we got back to New York.

I hadn’t even taken a sip from my mojito when I noticed Olivia had spotted a dog not-so-nearby. (Dogs are allowed on beaches.) Without hesitation, she ran to the dog, and I chased after her. I brought her back and tried to distract her with her beach toys.

“Let’s build a castle!” I told her.

But she saw another dog and ran over to that one, too. Not only did she pet the dog, but she also climbed onto the couple’s beach chairs, rolled around with the dog, and helped herself to their fruit salad. Did I mention she was covered in sand? The couple said she was “adorable,” but my husband and I were mortified. Needless to say, it was a short beach day.

Being at the beach with Olivia definitely felt less like a vacation and more like a regular, working-mom day. But some part of me hopes that a trip to the “Happiest Place on Earth” will truly be magical. Hey, I enjoy Disney, too, which is why I dream of taking my children and making it a really special trip. Hearing those mothers’ experiences just gave me a reality check on how much responsibility is involved when traveling with kids. So, when we finally do decide to go to Disney, we’re getting two extra tickets: one for each grandmother! With a little extra help, it just might be a very happy place for all of us.

Relevant Directory Listings

See More

Rodeph Sholom School Day Camp

<p>Rodeph Sholom School Day Camp is devoted to celebrating the joys of childhood. Our enthusiastic and compassionate staff are dedicated to providing a memorable, safe, and fun summer experience where children pursue passions while gaining new experiences. Our thoughtful, age appropriate programming enables children to grow as individuals and make lifelong friendships.</p> <p>This Summer, we believe kids need camp more than ever!</p> <p>More friendships than ever!</p> <p>More community building than ever!</p> <p>More connection making than ever!</p> <p>More activities than ever!</p> <p>More joy than ever!</p> <p>More ruach (spirit) than ever!</p> <p>More camp magic than ever! </p> <p>More FUN THAN EVER! </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Who We Are</strong></p> <p>Rodeph Sholom School Day Camp engages children <strong>ages Three through 6th Grade</strong> through experiences that help build a positive sense of self, strong peer relationships, skill development in a range of areas, exposure to new and existing passions.</p> <p>We are a strong community that celebrates each individual. Our camp feels like home to all of our campers and staff.</p> <p><strong>Our Mission</strong></p> <p>Our strong culture and community allows each child to discover new passions, create life-long friendships, and find a strong sense of belonging</p> <p><strong>Pursuit of Passion Elective Program</strong></p> <p>All of our rising 1st through 6th graders will have a two-hour long elective period daily, which is a chance to pursue an old or new passion. At the beginning of each two week session, campers have a chance to sign up for their Pursuit of Passion elective, or if they’d like, they can sign up for a mix of two passions to explore. After their Pursuit of Passion period ends in the morning, campers will return to their bunk group for a day full of sports, arts, swim, and more.</p> <p><strong>Possible Pursuits of Passion programs include:</strong></p> <p>- Sports (Floor Hockey, Soccer, Basketball, Skateboarding, Gymnastics, etc.)</p> <p>- Chess</p> <p>- Woodworking</p> <p>- Studio Arts</p> <p>- Hebrew</p> <p>- Performance Arts</p> <p>- Music (Rock band, DJing, Acapella)</p> <p>- Cooking</p> <p>- Business and Debate</p> <p>- Outdoor Adventure</p> <p>- Architecture</p> <p>- STEM Based Programming</p>

Rella’s Spielhaus Summer Camp

<h1>2024 Rella’s Summer Camp</h1> <p>Guten Tag! Rella's Spielhaus Summer Camp is New York's premier German Summer Day Camp, excited to be back for the 10th summer in a row!</p> <p>Located on 50 West 97th Street, half a block away from Central Park, we offer 9 weeks of summer camp between June 24 th and August 30 th . Kids 1-12yrs are invited to enroll week-by-week. Sibling/twin discount.</p> <h3>Daily schedule:</h3> <p>Mon – Fri: 9am – 3pm <br /><br />Early Drop-off Mon - Thu: 8:30am <br /><br />Aftercare Mon - Thu: 3-5pm </p> <p>Any level of German welcome, no potty training required. The younger kids can nap.</p> <p>Be it the kids’ favorite "Fussball" , an introduction to the mighty music of "Mozart" or a magical week of wizardry during “Abrakadabra”, the children will be immersed in singing, dancing, arts & crafts, and reading and writing - all tailored to their age group and level of German. In the second part of the morning, we will head out to nearby Central Park and enjoy the sprinkly summer activities.</p> <h3>Testimonial of a 2023 Rella’s Spielhaus Summer Camp Parent:</h3> <p>Rella’s is awesome! We started off with Saturdays and now our 3+ year old daughter is going to the summer camp every day and loves it. The entire team lead by Barbara genuinely cares and if you would see the level of thought and attention to detail, they put in each week is incredible. The kids spend so much time outside, are active and come back home happy and excited… couldn’t ask for more.</p> <p>M-A. B.</p> <p><strong>It is our goal to instill a life-long joy in the German language and culture and create a summer experience for your child she will remember for a long time.</strong></p> <p><strong>Call us today, wir freuen uns!</strong></p>

LIU Summer Sports Camps

<p>This July and August, young athletes will have the chance to participate in week-long athletic camps at Long Island University designed to connect them with NCAA Division I coaches to learn fundamentals and help improve their skills -- all while having fun and making lifelong friends. Camps are open to children entering grades 2-8 at any skill level. Select from 18 camps at one of our two campus locations in Brooklyn or Long Island.</p> <p> </p> <p> Sports include: Baseball, Basketball, Cheer, Dance, Esports, Fencing, Field Hockey, Football, Lacrosse, Marching Band, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball and Wrestling.</p>