With everything biding for our time and attention, summer can get out of hand quickly.
I want to end summer feeling like I got to enjoy my family. I want more than killing time and keeping my kids out of my hair.
I also don’t want a rigid schedule because everyday is different in our house. Not sure if this is good or bad but our life changes a lot.
I’ve seen some cool looking schedules for summer. And this works well for many families but what do you do when your church plans an event on your reading day, well, you have reading day another day. This can quickly drive you crazy. So while I believe you should have a schedule I also believe that some days, or even weeks, need flexibility.
So here’s how to have a simple yet meaningful summer –
1) Have a family meeting to talk about what everyone wants this summer. You might be surprised what your 5 year old has her heart set on. Everyone in the family gets to put something on the list. In addition, pick one thing meaningful to add to the list. For our family; We want to camp, see fireworks and play at our local gym. That all sound so fun and easy.
2) Block off big stuff. We have a few weeks that are off limits. VBS and vacation for example. Put them on your calendar first. Then think about events you want to participate in (fourth of July, etc) and fun scheduled activities you might go to (cheap kids movies, etc.). You don’t want to forget these so put them down that way you can choose later. I like to take a few minutes to search Facebook, and do a few google searches for fun things to keep in my hat. We may not go but if we need something to do it’s nice to have the list together.
3) Write down places close to you that might enjoy this summer. Again we might not go but at least we have the list. I can almost guarantee that we will pick something off the list at some point during the summer. Having a simplified summer also means having a little prep work done.
4) Don’t overschedule. If you don’t have margin, you’ll be strung out. Sometimes it’s nice to just be home. And that’s something I want to teach my kids. It’s fun to go but it should also be fun to stay.
5) Use what you have. When it comes to crafts or recipes for the summer, use what you have first before buying new stuff. This will save time and money. If you can improvise and save a trip to town, it’s worth it.
6) Get together. Some of my favorite memories have friends and family in them. Make sure you have some special “get together” time open. You won’t regret it.
7) Rest. Enjoying summer also means resting and soaking up the sun. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the slowness of the season.
I hope your summer is full of fun, rest and intention.
What will you be doing this summer?
As a pet sitter, my summer is often just plain busy! But I try to squeeze in an hour or two in between the chaos which helps to make my day not so horrible…and allows me to enjoy some summertime fun too! Also having a list of options for those days where I can escape makes being able to act on that option quickly if we decide to do something.
I love the family meeting idea. We also involve our children in planning activities. I think they’re happier and more cooperative when they know that their voices have been heard.
We returned on Friday from a family vacation and this week my kids go back to school. Vacay was nice while it was here – and it’s great to go back to routine.