I have discovered that blogging is a lot like working out; if you miss a day, it will turn into two, then three, and, well, you get the picture.  Is it Newton's law of motion which explains that a body in motion stays in motion, while a body at rest stays at rest? (I will have to Google that.)  This law translates to mean that for a burgeoning blogger; a writer that's writing continues to write, while a writer that's not writing is simply not writing!  And with summer right around the corner, actually the 'official' summer begins first week of June (schools recess for the season) it is no wonder that the seductive arms of laziness and lounging look plenty inviting to not just myself. 
I love summer, if only for the fact that I don't need to get kids to school at the first ray of light!  Which brings me to my point (yes there is one), what do you do with teenagers and 'tweens for an entire 12 weeks?  You encourage them to find some kind of a job of course.  And finding jobs for teens in an economy as we are experiencing it can look like a lot of different things.  Finding a job does not have to mean getting a paycheck.  For me, it means having someplace to go, and participating in something other than an MTV marathon of The Hills. 
In the community which we live, there is a theater group that performs various popular plays.  Now, all of my kids are 'Theater Kids' and are involved in the various aspects one finds in stage performing.  What is great is that each of my kids have natural talents and preferences that express themselves in the different arenas around productions.   Each one shines in a different setting, from costumes, to staging, to dancing, to singing.  The great thing is that they learn to interact with each other in a broader group that is different from the family or school.  I am learning that as the kids develop their particular talents more, the more they feel relaxed in their own skin.  That is an amazing thing to witness.  It is one thing to be party to an awakening of a set of talents, and a whole other thing to become a witness to an evolving gift.  If you are unsure what to do with/for your kids this summer, try investigating the community theater groups.  Its not for everyone, I know, but if it seems like fun to your kids, its worth checking out.  Have fun!

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