Overscheduling My Niece’s Visit

For years we have planned to have our nieces and nephew stay with us for a week the summer after they turn 12. I’m so excited that the time has finally come for my oldest niece to visit. She’ll be here next week. Some of the activities I’m looking forward to:

• Seeing Harry Potter and The Simpsons
• Getting facials or pedicures
• Meeting Hart with a picnic lunch when he’s working
• Playing video games
• Baking a pie
• Seeing a minor league baseball game
• Eating at some of our favorite restaurants
• Going for cupcakes and fancy doughnuts
• Doing some craft (this week it’s sewing)
• Visiting Elliot Bay Books
• Shopping at Buffalo Exchange
• Going to a “grownups'” restaurant
• Renting movies
• Going to a farmers’ market
• And, and, and. . .

Even I know we can’t cram this all into a week. There was a time that I could have and not been worse off for it. While that’s upsetting, I’m more concerned that there will be a day (or days) that I can’t leave the couch. I don’t want her to be bored, but I’m also the designated grownup.

I’ve made a plan. It may not work, but it has to be better than trying to go full speed. My niece is a late riser, so I’ll be able to keep my normal sleep schedule. I’ll make sure I eat regularly and keep a strict diet. (Although I might test a cupcake this weekend so I’ll know if I can cheat with one next week. :D) The hardest, and perhaps most important, part is to rest for two hours every afternoon.

As Hart pointed out, watching movies, playing video games (of which we have plenty) and eating at restaurants is a 12-year-old’s dream vacation. Instead of fretting that she’ll be bored, I need to remind myself of this regularly. It’s been successful so far. We’ll see if it holds once she arrives.