Kids at camp...what should I do? Update

If it were me I'd do all the things I like to do alone ~ shopping, organizing, watching a favorite show, reading and relaxing in the afternoon!

I’d binge watch something, relax and indulge myself a bit, and also try to tackle ONE reasonable project. Because although I am lazy I also like to be productive.

I voted for "binge watch something" because I'm doing that with "Criminal Minds" right now... But binge watch needs to be combined with "relax" since that's what I assume you'd be doing while you were binging. 

Do everything you want to do!

Eat meals (take out?) that only you like!

Watch the tv shows and movies that you usually wouldn't watch during the day because they're not for kids. Watch them whenever you want!

Shop in a store you don't like bringing them to because they ask for stuff or complain.

Take a nap.

Go clothes or shoes shopping.

When my twins went to Scout camp a few years ago I repainted their bathroom. There was plenty of time to just relax, but the whole job was much easier without them there. The next year I redid their TV area in the basement, which was a fun surprise for when they came home.

I'd choose a small-medium project to take on. When dh and yds went away this past Christmas break for almost a week I enjoyed having a bedroom project to work on (ODS was home but was doing his own thing). If my mojo didn't show up until after noon that was ok because I could work on my project until 10/11/12 at night and not worry about keeping anyone up or having to stop to fix dinner or anything. The only 'person' that I had to report to was the dog so I couldn't sleep in too late and I did have to stop briefly occasionally to tend to him but otherwise no schedule allowed me to do what I wanted yet feel like I accomplished something.

I would relax, scrap and binge watch (well, I'd read more than watch) and maybe do ONE room.

I say definitely take time for yourself.

My DDs are now well in to adult hood but when they were younger and would head off to camp for one or two weeks, I would always take a week or two off of work and completely, top to bottom, clean/organize/re-decorate/sometimes paint their bedrooms. I know that sounds counter-productive to having a week off to relax but it was really enjoyable to me and they LOVED getting home to see what I had done. The up-side was that one of my DDs was a total pack-rat so it was easier to declutter her bedroom without her than with her (and no, I didn't toss any treasures, just random scraps of paper, old paper towel rolls, assorted McDonald's toys, single socks, broken stuff, etc.).

Awww, I miss those days! Just recently we were talking about those camp-week clean-ups and DD (now 27) mentioned that she wouldn't mind at all if I wanted to come and re-do her bedroom while they were on vacation! (And I would too, if they didn't live clear across the US!).

Sleep. 

So what did you decide?

Whatever you can't do when they're there. Let your mood guide you.

Do you work? If so, relax. If not divide the days into thirds and spend 8 hours per day painting/purging and 8 hours binge watching/relaxing. Enjoy!

I would travel somewhere not too far from home that would bore my family to tears and would be more enjoyable alone. I like museums and historical landmarks, and never get to read every plaque and display with my kids in tow. They don't rush me, but I feel rushed.

Then I'd come home and tackle a project in sweet silence ahhhhhh.