Since becoming a momma, spring break looks a little different than it used to. Gone are the days of bikinis, beaches, and day drinking. With a tightened budget and a tummy that could use some tightening of its own (not to mention two little people underfoot), I’ve slowly learned to master the art of the staycation.

I’ve put together a list for you of my top 5 tips for surviving a staycation like a mother.

*Note: This post is part of a new series I’m starting called Like a Mother, which focuses on conquering the seemingly impossible like only a mother can. 😉 If you can think of anything you’d like to see featured in this new series, shoot me an email.

Is it just me or is March going by in a blur? I realized this weekend that next week is spring break for my girl. That teensy tiny realization has me scrambling for ideas.

As I’ve mentioned once or twice (or possibly a million times), my big little lady gets bored easily. While the little one can get lost playing with her little people for hours, Sam needs more.

I’ve found that the best way to deal with her boredom is by being totally prepared. More often than not I am not prepared. But now that I’m an old thirty-year-old lady, I thought I should get myself together. 😉

Now, the problem with spring break in the northeast is that you really can’t predict the weather. We could have awesome, playground-worthy weather or the snow could just keep coming.

In case of less than stellar weather, I went hunting for kids crafts and a couple of experiments (she loves experiments!) and this is what I came up with:

This week has been insane. Samantha is on spring break, Ellie refuses to nap while her sister is home, I have a lot of work to do and Tim’s schedule has been all over the place. My ladies have needed constant stimulation and Ellie has wanted to be a part of everything Sam does, much to Samantha’s chagrin.

Still, I’m kind of sad that the week is almost over. Aside from fits of screaming and crying and assertions that Elyssa is mean and Samantha no longer likes her, we’ve been all crafty, had a fun picnic, had a little spa day, sang and danced around like wild women, and read some good books among other things.

Sam’s not so fond of down time, so while I was trying (unsuccessfully) to get the little bean down for a nap, I used one of the prompts from Mama Kat’s Writing Workshop to buy a little time (yes they’re supposed to be writing prompts for me to consider, but hey. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do):

Ask your child to name 10 things (or less)
they’d like to do for Spring Break

1. Go camping.
2. Go to the beach with (and only with) Nana and Papa.
3. Eat ice cream on a hill.
4. Go in the pool.
5. Climb a tree while singing.
6. Go to the movies outside.
7. Learn how to do a somersault.
8. Try to catch a mermaid.
9. Go wherever [I want] in a store.
10. Write 100 words.

She’s kind of hilarious. I love that she tried to make ordinary things a little out of the ordinary by adding things like “on a hill” and “while singing.” Most of these things won’t be completed before next Tuesday, but summer vacation is looming and we’ll need a major to-do list then. Catching a mermaid will definitely be on the top of that list!