MOMania

By Jeff

April 8, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this

I was just in Warm Springs for the weekend with T, and we went to the Animal Safari in Pine Mountain as well as Callaway. The Safari is GREAT for kids and would probably be a decent distraction from what could be a boring time at Callaway for them. (Though both T and I enjoyed Callaway, and will probably go back repeatedly for the various hiking/biking trails.)

If you don’t mind something like 12 hours of driving for just a couple of hours on the beach, Jekyll is technically a day trip. (As I found out a couple of years ago when I had some teaching interviews in the area.)

The Albany area also has a few things, including Chehaw Park (which has a zoo), The Flint Riverquarium, and Turtle Park (painted turtle statues, but also a play ground and a paved walking trail along the river, in addition to ample room to simply run around/ picnic in).

Somewhat off the beaten path are the various state parks. FDR looks pretty cool, and is almost literally right beside Callaway. Never personally been there though. Providence Canyon is also pretty cool, but the trails are relatively tedious and not advisable for small kids. (Roughly 7yo and up should easily be able to handle it though.)

In North GA, Cartersville has the Etowah Indian Mounds/ Dellinger Park complex, and they are working on (may have completed already) a paved trail connecting Dellinger to the Etowah river, with more ball fields near the river.

State parks in N GA are abundant, and I really don’t know of too many up there that I DON’T like. Favorites are probably Vogel, Cloudland Canyon (on the western rim of Lookout Mountain, meaning you could easily do Chattanooga if the kids get bored at the SP), and Red Top (hey, Allatoona is nearing full SUMMER pool with all the rain y’all are getting up there!).

You’ve also got the Rome Braves minor league team.

NE GA, Tallula Gorge SP is pretty cool. Didn’t do the falls trail, and it looks like it may be another that small kids may have a problem with, but the view is pretty cool.

E/SE GA I’m not so familiar with. Just remember though that if you don’t mind driving, you can spend a few hours virtually anywhere in the state and still complete the journey within one 24 hour span.

By FCM

April 8, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

The park works. Otherwise I think we listed tons of stuff yesterday. Ball games are good too—check the Braves schedule.

By FCM

April 8, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

OOOPS Braves are away this week…stupid scheduling.

By JJ

April 8, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this

We are headed to Callaway Gardens Friday for two nights. We don’t stay in the gardens, but we stay just outside at the Davis Inn. We have been going for years!!!!

By DB

April 8, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this

• Panning for gold and “gems” in Dahlongega

• Go out to Mayfield Dairy, see how they make ice cream, get a cone of ice cream

• Go to Turner Field and get a tour when there’s not a game going on.

• Fernbank! Go see an IMAX movie!

• Fernbank Nature Center, the planetarium.

• Have you tried the Children’s Museum downtown, up the street from the Aquarium?

• Story hour at the library

• Six Flags is open — if you dare

• Go out to Oakland and walk around — kids are usually fascinated by the “funny” tombstones.

• The Federal Reserve is always an interesting visit, especially watching them chew up money!

• The Georgia Renaissance Festival starts this weekend!

• The Pet Parade in Chandler Park on Saturday — if you don’t want to walk in it, it should at least be fun to watch!

• Alvin and the Chipmunks will be at North Point starting Friday for a free show and interaction — if they liked the movie, they’ll probably enjoy that.

• “The Lion King” is playing this week at the Civic Center.

Enjoy the rest of your spring break!

-

By teach1

April 8, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

Sorry to hijack your thread like this but I need advice. I am step-mom to our soon to be 16 yr old. “Mom” has set up a babysitting “job” for daughter. The rate is killing me: $100. for a week of 8-5pm with a 7 and 12 yr old. This rate is $2.20 an hour. Daughter’s standard rate when she babysits (she has done alot of babysitting) is $5.00 an hour. Daughter does not want to make a big deal out of this and “mom” thinks it is ok. Am I crazy for being upset by this?

By JJ

April 8, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this

Teach1 I think making $100 for a week of babysitting, for a 16 year old is very good.

The 12 year can basically take care of themselves, but the 7 year old needs a bit more attention.

If she is driving to and from the house, then I would up it a bit for gas, but if they are picking up and dropping her off, then $100 is good.

My 17 year old is taking care of two boys aged 2 and 6 for spring break and she is being paid $100.

Also, keep in mind, her mother set this up, not you. And, if her mother is a single parent (as I am), then that $100 really helps out. The daughter now has her own spending money.

$5.00/hr is a good rate for a babysitter, for a few hours at a time, not an entire 40 hour week.

that’s just my 2 cents……

By ayoungmom

April 8, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this

With all due respect Teach1, if your stepdaughter’s mother set this up, then I think it is between she and her mother (and the father). I don’t think you should be frustrated or angered by this in anyway, because it really has nothing to do with you. Leave it alone. Not trying to be rude, but thats my $.02.

By teach1

April 8, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

Thanks for your $.02 I think I just needed to hear that.. I will let it go and live my day peacefully. Funny how somethings get under your skin but just a word can make everything better. Thanks youngmom.

Point to JJ. Mom is single but obviously not single parent. There is a differnce.

By Sara

April 8, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this

I made 200 a week for spring break babysitting at 16 years old and that was 10 years ago. I pay my babysitters 8 and hour if they drive 6 if they don’t.

By FCM

April 8, 2008 7:31 PM | Link to this

I paid $8/hr when I had babysitters, now I just stay home or get a relative to do it for free…I don’t go out much.

IMHO the daughter is giving a discount on her normal rate. However, the balance is that she is garaunteed the hours. Therefore, the real question is how many other offers (ie contracts) did she have this week. If the answer is zero than to quote Howie Mandell: She made a good deal!

The bad thing was her mother brokered it all. Did she have any say it? This was a great opportunity for the teen to learn negotiating skills…if the offer was I will pay her $100 for the week she could have said, that would be nice, but that means I lose my Spring Break fun, how about $150 then settled at $125…now if the first offer was $75 and Mom talked it up to $100 but the daughter was in on it then Kudos to Mom……

By FCM

April 8, 2008 7:32 PM | Link to this

I paid $8/hr when I had babysitters, now I just stay home or get a relative to do it for free…I don’t go out much.

IMHO the daughter is giving a discount on her normal rate. However, the balance is that she is garaunteed the hours. Therefore, the real question is how many other offers (ie contracts) did she have this week. If the answer is zero than to quote Howie Mandell: She made a good deal!

The bad thing was her mother brokered it all. Did she have any say it? This was a great opportunity for the teen to learn negotiating skills…if the offer was I will pay her $100 for the week she could have said, that would be nice, but that means I lose my Spring Break fun, how about $150 then settled at $125…now if the first offer was $75 and Mom talked it up to $100 but the daughter was in on it then Kudos to Mom……

By FCM

April 9, 2008 7:38 AM | Link to this

We did the Huntsville, AL Space Museum as a day trip when I was kid. Granted we left at 5AM and got back at 9PM so it was a LONG day but worth every minute and one of the few ‘short’ trips we took that I remember.

Well off to interviews, keep your fingers crossed!

By Jen

April 9, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

As a correction, the Pet Parade is in Candler Park not Chandler Park.

I only make this distinction because I think there IS a Chandler Park, though I don’t know where that is.

Also, Candler Park isn’t the same as Murphy-Candler Park.

By DB

April 9, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Jen, thanks for correcting that!

By Julie

April 9, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this

fyi, the Mayfield Dairy in Braselton only produces milk. the Mayfield in Athens, TN has milk and ice cream in production except for Wednesdays. Either one is still a fantastic day trip.

By HB

April 9, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this

Stone Mountain is a nice all-day trip. There’s really a lot to do there. The ride to the top, the train, the antique car museum (I know that sounds as if it’d be boring for kids, but it really isn’t — there are lots of cool old-timey nickelodians and such), etc. I hear there’s lots of newer stuff for kids too in a barn or something (I haven’t been in a while). If the kids can last til dark, end the day with the laser show.

As for babysitting, I do think you have to stay out of it and it’s between her and mom, but seriously — what a rip-off! $20 per 9-hour day?! I made more than that as a 13-year-old babysitter in the early 90s, and $5/hour by age 15 way back then. Your stepdaughter should up her rates to $6 — no reason to ask for less than minimum wage.

To me, there’s no excuse for paying less than minimum wage to a kid 15 or older. Back in the day in my small town, people were willing to pay $3/hour to younger teens to babysit children 2 and older (usually short jobs with no late nights), but today, I think few parents feel ok with a sitter younger than 15. They are looking for someone they trust to keep their kids happy and safe. Doesn’t such an employee deserve to make as much as the kid tearing ticket stubs and filling popcorn buckets at the theater? Mom brokered a bad deal and should pay her daughter the difference out of her own pocket.

By FCM

April 9, 2008 6:42 PM | Link to this

IF I paid $8/hr for a sitter for 50 hours (My 9 hour day and the commute) that is MORE than I would have to pay daycare…why would I do that? (Daycare

SHEEESH most people make little more than that after taxes during the same week…Cannot take off b/c companies are making cut backs…don’t want to be the nail.

Now I think a better deal might have been brokered but the kid was ok with it….I already said she should broker a better deal.

Speaking of which one interview seemed to go well. Doing my follow up now. Plus got another lead, keep praying!!

By letthembe

April 10, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

Why not just let them relax and enjoy the time off from school? My goodness, their time is already so filled with activities, it’s nice just to be able to chill. I know some parents flip out at the idea of school being closed and actually having to deal with their children, but come on, adults get a vacation, so should their kids.

By JLW

April 11, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

Back to short day trips- I took my son to Chattanooga for the day last week. We went to the Aquarium and were scheduled to go to the Children’s musuem, but had an unplanned visit to the UTC children’s hospital instead. I highly recommend Chattanooga as a place to visit. The Aquarium has special deals not only the 2 big fish tank buildings, but IMAx and the musuem all for one low price. Plus its a nice walking city or you can ride the free shuttle around town.

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