No plans for the May 24 long weekend? Got you covered.

I’m the bearer of bad news.
With only a few weeks to go before the May 24 long weekend, chances are great that if you haven’t already booked a getaway, you won’t be having one.
And a long weekend with no planned getaway just about guarantees that there will, at some point over the four days, be a universal child-voiced cry of “I’m bored!” (There will also likely be a few “She’s hitting me!” and “I had it first.” but you get the gist.)
And while you’ll want to snap back with a loving “KNOCK IT OFF!” every time, there is a way you can make these battles work for you. 
Because while expensive flights and workplace bans on visiting travel booking sites may try to thwart your plans, they can’t take your dreams.

The complaint: “I’m hungry”
The usual retort: “I’m mom. Nice to meet you.”
Instead:  They’ve got to eat and if the weather holds up (who are we kidding? We’re Canadians! Rain or shine we’re out there) throwing some burgers and hot dogs on the grill will take you about 5 minutes and make you an instant hit. And while they’re noshing on your goodwill, you can begin dreaming about a trip to Memphis where barbecue – in even the fanciest places – comes with extra napkins to catch the goodness dripping from your chin and not a single fork.
 

The complaint: “I’m thirsty”
The usual retort: “Grab a drink!”
Instead: Give them a lemonade Stand. Your 30 minutes in the kitchen helping them make a pitcher of the sour stuff will buy you a good few hours of them sitting on the front porch waiting for a sucker. And while they do that you can relax on your front porch with a drink of your own, admire your munchkins’ foolish perseverance and dream about a trip  to Italy‘s wine country.
 

The complaint: “We’re Bored.”
The usual retort: “Tell your father!”
Instead: Backyard camp out! Take the leftover hot dogs, add the still-full pitcher of lemonade, throw up a tent (blanket over a few chairs works too)  and voila! – Camping Adventure tailor made for the kiddies. If the kids force you to take it further, arm yourselves with marshmallows, sticks and insect repellent and rough it for a weekend at a local campground. And while you’re scratching the bug bites and picking ants out of your daughter’s hair, dream of the Tented Camps at the Four Seasons in Thailand.

And first thing Tuesday morning? Book this year’s summer vacation. You don’t want to have this problem again, do you?
So spill it. What are you doing for the long weekend?