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The
Noise on Boys!
Working
Dads:
Make the Most of Summer with Your Son
by
Kevin Arthur
As a father
of three young children, I find summer to be a challenging time
of year. Of course, the school year has its own hectic pace, running
to soccer, baseball, gymnastics, Cub Scouts, and religious education
every night of the week. In summer when the children have time to
spare, explaining that adults do not have the same days off is hard.
This working dad still needs to do just that: work.
My daughter
keeps herself busy with her girlfriends, but my sons truly look
forward to some "Guy Bonding" during the summer months.
That is why I look for things I can do with the boys at night or
on the weekends to make the most of the limited time we have together.
Don't get me wrong, my daughter is always welcome to join us but
as she said during our last fishing adventure, "Um, Daddy…can
we go shoe shopping instead?"
Living in Fredericksburg
has its advantages. We are close to numerous attractions in Washington
D.C., Richmond, and Williamsburg. With rising gas prices these traditional
summer outings may not fit into the family budget, but don't despair;
there are plenty of activities right in our local area providing
ample opportunity for quality family time on a tight budget.
Be a tourist
in your own town! Try taking in one of the local Civil War battlefields.
The four battlefields in the area, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville,
the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania, offer not only a taste of the
rich history in our area, but an opportunity to spend some quality
time outdoors.
There are also some great fishing and hiking areas tucked away in
our area. One of my sons' favorites is Mott's Run. Located just
off River Road, Mott's Run can fill your day with quality outdoor
activities. Take a hike on one of the many nature trails and view
the wildlife in our backyard. Spend some time fishing off one of
the docks or rent a boat and take a ride around the reservoir. Visit
the nature center and hold a live snake named Poppet. If you're
looking to spend a couple of days out in the wilderness, visit one
of the camp grounds in the area: Westmoreland State Park and Prince
William Forest are some of our favorites. Each offers a unique experience
at a minimal cost.
The National
Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, VA is a hit with kids and
adults. There are plenty of interactive activities. Families have
the opportunity to learn the history and sacrifices of one of the
services protecting our rights and freedoms.
Closer to
home, try the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center in
downtown Fredericksburg. While there, take a stroll downtown and
visit many of the unique shops and have lunch with the family at
one of the many local restaurants. Interested in the Civil War?
Visit the White Oak Civil War Museum on White Oak Road, owned and
operated by a local family.
Summer may
present some unique challenges with a change of schedule and the
lack of adult vacation time, but with a little planning it is easy
to discover fun family activities, at minimal to no cost, right
here in our own Fredericksburg backyard. As our family likes to
say, "It doesn't matter what we do, as long as we do it together."
Kevin
Arthur is the father of three in Stafford and Active Duty Lt. Col.
in the U.S. Air Force.
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