Summer Vacation for My 7 Year Old.

7 weeks does seem long. What about sending him for half that and then flying him home? "Unattended minors" fly by themselves all the time. The airlines are set up for that. If he's up for it and is comfortable with his aunt, it would be a memorable summer for him!

I think 7 weeks is a long time. He will miss you and the other kids will miss him. Plus he will miss the birth of his sibling. If he goes he needs to come home after a couple of weeks. I know that may seem a deal breaker but he is 7. He will be the other kids playmate and he will be a big helper with them and the new baby.

If you were not pregnant and if it were just, say 3 weeks or less then I'd be all for it. But he might feel like he is being sent away in favor of a new baby and the younger kids.

Hi! If he wants to go and you are comfortable with your SIL I'd send him, it sounds like a great summer adventure to me. Do you think your SIL would like to take me?

I am all for allowing children to go to camps, adventures, etc during the summer but in this situation, I believe 7 weeks is too long right now. I could see a shorter trip for him if you could manage to fly him home in a reasonable time on a non-stop flight.

How would you feel if your mom sent you on a great opportunity, no doubt, but while you were gone she went through final prep for a new baby and when you got home, here is new baby? new family dynamic!

I can see some potential resentment of being "sent away" to be "out of mom's hair" so she can can rest, prep and deliver. This baby marks a huge change in his life as well. He needs a chance to bond with this baby and feel like his is an important part of this process.

Are there any options with low cost camps through Parks/Rec/Y? I know some schools have camps for children that are low costs.

I would look more in to some local options and helping him feel important to you and helping you prepare for this baby. Preparation is mental ad well as physical... Be there for him so he can communicate with you. He also needs mom right now because I am sure at 7, even if he is happy about a new baby, he also feels like he is losing a part of mom. Make this a positive experience for you both.

Best wishes and congratulations.

Personally, I wouldn't send my child away at the same time a new sibling is joining the family. Bonding needs to start taking place from the moment of birth, to be sent away before or shortly after the new arrival could signal to your son he's unwanted or no longer needed or loved, he wouldn't see that he was getting an amazing experience on a ranch.

Have you checked into your local Boys and Girls Club? It's reasonable, you just pay for the membership card, something like $25 for the year, and the program is free. They offer sports ~ free play and organized, crafts, lunch, those with pools offer free swim time, outdoor play, computer time, it's great! Two of my grandchildren have gone since they were 6 and 9 (I believe 6 is the youngest they accept them) and love it, they go there when they're not with me in the summer. Their's also offers weekly excursions you pay for if you want your child to go. Look into what is offered, you may be pleasantly surprised, the clubs exist because every child should have a fun, inexpensive place to go...my grandkids think of it as their summer camp ; )

I think it's too much considering the people he'd be staying with aren't his actual relatives.

You don't have to sign up for any expensive camps. Sign him up for some city classes, set up play dates, get a season pass somewhere. Do you have family than can help you with outings? What about going to the beach? You live in Miami, it seems like a pretty nice place to be stuck during summer vacation. I am not sure if you are religious, but a lot churces do a Vacation Bible School, which is usually a few hours a day and very affordable.

That sounds like a lot of fun, but to me, a month and a half is a long time for a 7 year old to be away from home, and I'm not one who was afraid to send my kids off. I always worked, my kids went to daycare, had sleepovers at the grandparents as preschoolers, went to visit at your son's age for a week and a half. The big question is, does he want to go and is he comfortable with it? Would he be away from home at the time that the baby is born, and come back to everyone settled into their new roles and routines and be the odd man out? Do you have a parks/recreation department where you live? Ours offer camps that are not so pricey. Good luck. I'd like to kayak and feed the buffalo.

I wouldn't send my 7 year old off for 7 weeks. My daughter is 6 and I can't imagine it. I'm sure Miami has some sort of park district. Can he start little league or swimming lessons or tennis or soccer? Those are maybe a few times per week and less expensive.

I agree with TF - sending him off then to come home to new baby will be hurtful - especially since you are not looking to get rid of your middle child as well. He will feel like you wanted him out of the way to make room for new baby and middle child got to stay, so you must like him/her more.

I know this, my grandmother did this to my father when his little sister was born - sent him to the relatives for a month or so. It was hurtful, and he never forgot it.

I think preparing for baby should be a family thing and everyone will be excited. Instead of sending him away, you need to make a special effort to make him feel loved.

Wow, that sounds like so much fun for him! And what a great opportunity for that much more free time for you and your newborn. I think it depends a lot on your son. Is he one that tries a sleepover but is always getting picked up by 9pm? Or is he pretty confident not being with mom and dad? I'd say to talk it over with him, explaining all that he'd do there but it would be near impossible for him to come home before the 7 weeks. If he's open to it, talk about how it's normal to be homesick and how he can communicate with you. It's a great opportunity! I'd say take it!

Depends on your kid. My son is extremely independent and went off to overnight camp at age 7 where he knew noone and had the time of his life. Now, at age 8, he wants to go for a month though we can't afford it.

Also has your son spent a lot of time with his cousins and his aunt? Does he get along with them? Can he get comfort if he is sad, lonely, or upset? Has he spent time at sleepovers and how has he done? Does he want to go or does he want to be around for his siblings birth?

I second the people saying to look for community park/rec activities or things through an organization like the YMCA, usually a bit cheaper.

My girls love going to Ohio for the summer. They go to my parents house. They play with cousins and neighborhood kids. They can't do that here in FL because all my family is up north. Parents don't let their kids play in my neighborhood :( I miss my kids terribly but I know they have a ball and are with family. This is their 3/4 year going. Usually hubby and I go up for a week in July to help break up the trip. They love the memories and then have stuff to write when in school. They plant a garden, go to the lake (no gators there), summer camp, Bible school, ride their bikes. It's all country and good fun!

Let him go. What an experience. If he wants to come home early,
your husband can fly up and bring him back. Before I made any decision,
I would talk to him about it. Will he feel left out when the baby arrives and he
is not there. Is he OK with being away from you. Sit down, talk about it,
and then decide. If someone is not available to get him home if he wants
to come home, then I would not even discuss it.

I was thinking the same thing as Sue. Could you send him for half of the time and then fly him back? That's what I would do if I could swing it. 7 weeks is just too long. I would miss him too much if he was gone for 7 weeks, but it sounds like a great opportunity for him if he could go for awhile.

I personally wouldn't let him go. You're about to have a baby & he'd be gone for 7 wks? What about family bonding w/the new baby??
Not to mention you don't know anybody in Michigan. You just can trust people these days. I'm sure your SIL would keep an eye on him, but not like you would.
Also, are you ready to be away from him for 7 weeks???? I'd miss my kids way too much for that.
I think you'll figure things out for the summer w/him.

Consider community centers in your area. Ours here is run by the county and is very inexpensive. If he is in public school, they may have an inexpensive option too. Don't feel you have to do a lot. I think it's pretty exciting that you are getting ready to have a baby. That will be pretty entertaining for your son, I would think.

Sounds like an amazing offer and time...BUT, my kids wouldn't be going. My MIL asked for my daughter the summer she was 6 just for a week. MIL and I do not see eye-to-eye on punishment and they are WAY too lax on watching kids where she lives, so no, my daughter didn't go. I also am not ready for my kids to be away for a week yet. They are now almost 9, 7, and 5. I'll let go soon enough, but just not yet.

Just because you'll have a newborn doesn't mean he can't get out and do things or that friends can't come over. Kids don't always need a busy summer...so don't feel bad if this one is more relaxed than others. That's good sometimes too :).

OR...can he go for a week?

I'd let him go. It's a great opportunity. If he wants to come home early, he can fly (as long as there is no connecting flight).

I would not be comfortable sending my child off for that long, but that is me. There is a program again this summer where kids can bowl for free. 2 games every day during the week. Check out kidsbowlfree.com. You pick a bowling alley near you and sign up. They will send you weekly cupons.