Moms Talk Round-Up: Keeping Up with the Kids

Each week, our Patch sites ask area moms, dads and grandparents to chip in on questions posed by mom councils in Moms Talk. This week, parents discussed the end of school and the beginning of summer, as well as handling that racket of music.

Camping Out:
Martha Baur wrote: “My 10-year-old is going to sleep-away camp in North Carolina for two weeks. My 7-year-old wants to be like her big sister and go to sleep-away camp, so she's going to Cub Creek -- a darling animal camp in Rolla for a week. Close to home, but she is getting a sense of independence. Here in St. Louis, my youngest is going to Ackermann's Swim Camp in Kirkwood. It's two weeks of fun and great swim instruction, and my 4-year-old will come out of it swimming on her own. I know because my other two did.”
- In Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch/Ladue-Frontenac Patch

The Parenting That Never Ends:
Beverly Brannan wrote: “My kids are grown, but I have grandkids. They expect me to be at all their ball games, scouting activities, play dates and parties. If I miss one, I get this ache in my stomach when one of them says, ‘Nanny, where were you?’ My grandkids from out of town Skype me to tell me about going to the library, friends, activities at their churches, and fun things they do at their day care. Sometimes I feel pulled from one end to the other, and it is exhausting. Having seven grandchildren takes first place in the ‘fun run.’ Someone, in addition to mom and dad, has to be in a kid's life to say, ‘That a girl! Or, that a boy! You're the best! I knew you could do it! or Shake it off, you'll do better next time!’ Love those kids and all their activities; life is too short. Be involved, be active, be there.”
-In Eureka-Wildwood Patch

The Balancing Act:
Patti Baratta wrote: “As kids get older, club/select sports seem to take over lives. We got to a point where the kids had to choose favorite activities in an attempt to limit our crazy schedule. The one thing that I insisted on was learning to read music. Once they had a feel for the basic piano, I let them drop it. One picked up the guitar and is an amazing self-taught guitarist. The other is not interested in music, but has the basics down. I felt that was time well spent.”
-In O’Fallon Patch

Cover Those Ears?
Rhonda Shrum wrote: “I'm guilty of letting my 4 year old sing along to things that are probably not acceptable. My theory is this: He's too little to truly understand what the song means, and by pointing it out and saying, ‘No, that's bad,’ I'm drawing attention to something he doesn't need to be aware of yet. I remember singing along to ‘Like a Virgin’ when I was very young, and thankfully, my mom bit her tongue. When I was older and understood what it meant, I remember feeling thankful that she hadn't forbidden me to listen to it.”
- In St. Charles Patch