Last-minute summer camps and mom getaways
Remy Cohen flies on the trapeze at Camp Kenwal in Melville. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
"The sunscreen got in my eyes!"
"I can't find my hat."
"Don't forget your water bottles."
That was the soundtrack in my house last Monday morning around 7 a.m. trying to get both kids ready for the first day of summer camp. Then, after snapping a quick photo of them, my husband, who works at the camp, loaded them in his car and they were off, the loudness replaced by silence.
That quiet might upset some moms, and I get it. I've seen the "you only get 18 summers with your kids" TikToks, but as a busy working mom I've also come to accept that I can't entertain my children throughout the whole summer and be successful at my job too. Trying to do both usually results in my kids being disappointed or me being stressed out — or both.
Luckily, I married a teacher who doesn't know how to take summers off, so my kids get to be entertained five days a week for about eight weeks without breaking our budget or blowing through all my PTO.
Some snapshots from my kids' first day of camp. Credit: Rolling River Day Camp
If you are still looking for last-minute camp options, we have you covered.
Help wanted: Finding summer jobs for teens
Olivia Auerbach, 19, of Islip, right, and Mimi Hasty, 19, of Islip Terrace, work at Coyle's Ice Cream in Islip. Auerbach said she applied for summer jobs at several places before she was hired at Coyle's. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
If your kids are older and working this summer, they should consider themselves lucky they were able to land a seasonal gig.
As Newsday recently reported, employers on Long Island have cut back on hiring teens this summer, reflecting a nationwide trend in which businesses, such as ice cream shops, amusement parks, children's camps and stores that typically hire extra help during the season are instead operating with a leaner workforce.
See why this summer is projected to be the toughest for youth employment in nearly 80 years.
Squeeze in a moms getaway
Unwind at The Rockaway Hotel + Spa in Rockaway Beach. Credit: Kyle Knodell
I usually have about an hour after my kids head out the door for camp before my workday starts, so I've been trying to use it on the one person who I tend to neglect during the busy school year: myself. I started running again. Just a mile or two, but it's something.
I'm starting to see that the summer can be a great time to schedule in some "me" time, along with the "family time," too.
While I always book a couple of short family vacations in July and August, this list is persuading me to consider a moms getaway, too. These Long Island-area hotels are close enough to book on a whim, but far enough to feel like a true reset, and certain days come with lower rates.
You can schedule a solo night or grab some of your friends for a quick girls' trip — one that will actually make it out of the group chat.
Join the conversation
Share your thoughts with me and other Long Island moms by joining our new Facebook group, follow us on Instagram at @longisland_moms and let us know what more you’d like to see from this newsletter by emailing workingmoms@newsday.com.
