Photo Credit: Lin Pernille Photography
This week’s intention is Make More Memories.
Last summer, I barely had a minute to enjoy the times we had together.
I did things. I spent time with the family. But it was all very rushed. There was a lot of stress last summer, of course. That stress has changed to new stress this year. Now, instead of my husband being unemployed, he’s commuting 2.5 hours a day. That means I will be treking the kids across town to summer camp and picking them up again — all while working full-time.
I feel the push and pull of the summer months and busy days already, like weights around my ankles. The weekends are already filling fast, fast, fast. Much like our spring bucket list, I want to make sure I make the most of summer, that I practice the mindfulness that is so important to how we raise our children — with our eyes and hearts wide open.
I’m worried I’ll miss another summer season rushing around.
So I’m making plans to have the most Awake summer I’ve had in a long, long time. I want to Wake Up each day and know that I’m in the middle of summer.
How, though? How is this even possible?
Planning ahead. And less expectations of myself and summer itself. First, you must ask yourself what summer means to you. Your answer may differ from mine. Summer means lazy days, swimming and enjoying all of my favorite foods and drinks — all while spending as little time inside as possible. Write your own answer using the following for inspiration.
Here are 6 Ways to a Sensational Summer:
MEALS: I’ve already selected what we’re eating this summer. I sat down with a notebook and wrote a list of all our favorite summery meals. The best summer desserts. Fresh fruit musts. Barbecue fooods. I plan to only grill or use the crockpot most of the time because I do not want to stand over the stove when I could be outside. I don’t want to get to the end of summer and realize I forgot to make homemade ice cream as often as possible.
CREATE A PLAN: We will resume our home learning this summer to keep the kids brains’ sharp. I haven’t done much home education since they began Kindergarten so I’m excited to do this again this summer. We’ve created a plan for Monday through Friday and I will have it all planned out before the end of the school year. It will be fun, of course, and less like school and more like summer camp. The kids helped create the list of what we’ll do this summer to keep learning fun. Of course, this is whole-family learning at our house, not just for the children. We’ll all be involved.
ENJOY THE SUMMER: Stop and take deep breaths. Go outside often. Sip tea on the porch. Watch a sun set and a sun rise. Stare up at the moon with my arms open wide. Dance. Feel every moment possible. Taste the summer as if its fresh from a tree.
DAILY WONDER: I plan to take a 15 minute daily wonder time-out for myself. It will probably include a lot of sitting on the patio or the front porch or on the side of the pool with my feet soaking. It will be outside or near a breezy window. It may even be sitting outside under the porch roof, listening to the rain. It will involve appreciation and gratitude to the amazing people in our life. It will include listening to what the stars are telling me.
PUT LOVE FIRST: For the first time ever, my husband and I are making our summer bucket list in addition to the one we have as a family. We’ll do simple, easy and fun things each week, probably after the girls go to sleep. Things like make Sangria, swim after dark and make a summer playlist. I’ll share our family’s bucket lists later this week.
RELAX: For children, summer is about no school and just being themselves. The great things about summer are, indeed, magical — simply because children make them so. To truly have a sensational summer, we need to relax the rules, invite curiosity and wonder into our lives and follow their lead. It might lead to a creek to wade your feet. It might lead to a night of catching lightning bugs. It might lead to sitting in a tent in the backyard, reading and giggling. Whatever it is …. let the children decide and magic will follow.
How about you? What does summer mean to you?
What perfect goals for the summer! We are only a few days into the summer, and I’m already feeling much more relaxed. I love that I don’t have to drive my daughter to school every day. We’re working on one goal at a time. Our first goal is to eat breakfast outside every morning. Here in TX, it is much too hot in the middle of the day to get outside, so this gets us out and once we have finished breakfast we tend to our plants and play outdoors. Last summer we spent far too much time indoors since we missed the prime opportunity to be outdoors. I really minimize use of the oven during the summer mainly because it heats up the house too much requiring the a/c to run more. Plus, I don’t like eating hot food very much in the summer.
Rebekah — Great idea to get out early. We’ve always been big fans of sitting outside for breakfast or tea. I hope you have a fantastic — and cool — summer!!
I totally understand about feeling like summer is already weighing you down. Just the other day I was thinking about all the things that are already “planned” for our weekends. They seem to be slipping by before we’ve even gotten to them. I love the idea of writing down what summer means to you and creating a plan from there. There also may be a few commitments that will have to be scratched (in a polite way, of course!) so that we can make those things happen. Thanks for sharing how you plan to make your summer one to remember!
Gina — I totally agree on scratching some commitments … planning to do the very same. Most of my activities are things I thought sounded great two months ago!! UGH. : )
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I started Summer of Giving last year to teach the kids about their community and how to give back. This year I plan lots of time in the water (where we are all happy), hiking, biking, and crafts. Not getting dressed until we have to and lots of dining al fresco! And of course – finding ways to give back. http://asummerofgiving.blogspot.com/
Can you share some of your fun home learning plans?
Will do!!
This took forever because I wanted you to understand it but here is our summer learning plan … long story short, I had to revamp and I do plan to write about that soon. Hope you get some ideas! https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B5JqTm1woFODUVgwSElTWEVtdEE
Copied and pasted the above link but it said website not found
Would you tell us more, please? I also want an "awake" summer, a summer spent intentionally. I'm working on plans for our own home-made "summer camp" so we're not totally aimless, yet I don't want us to be servants of structure…love the sense of natural flow you seem to be aiming for. I'd love to hear more from you. Thanks!
Deb! I am going to roll out a special project very soon about this! Thanks for asking. Be sure to sign up for the e-zine so you can learn more.
Yay, thanks! I'll sign up now.
We have 4 daily "rules" for the summer…1. You must be outside. 2. You must read a book–my kids are small but the one reading chapter books usually reads a chapter. 3. You must get wet. and 4. You must have a face to face conversation with a person. These things can be done together and are the only "musts" which isn't hard at all. I LOVE summer because it gives me a chance to be with my kids without having the school/homework daily requirement. We make a lot of memories easily.
Thanks for reminding all of us to enjoy summer wtih our children as they are precious times we get to spend together. We've been trying to make sure each day is filled with fun together as a family. We've been coming up with ideas for Play, Learn, Make and Go as we fill our days. http://theeducatorsspinonit.blogspot.com/2012/06/afterschool-express-summer-bucket-list.html
Your words ring so true, and I had already promised myself to enjoy the summer more, get outside more, relax more. It helped that on my first day of summer vacation (I am an elementary school teacher) I got a new puppy – - you are outside a lot when you have a puppy. We were really enjoying her, our yard, the early quiet mornings, and then the fires started (I live in Colorado). For awhile you couldn’t be outside for more than about 5 minutes because of the smoke and heat. Then, finally, the rains came (more to my town than the fires, but still, rain). The easy-up and lights were still outside from my daughter’s college graduation party. So when that rain started, I turned on the lights, sat under the tent, and enjoyed every moment of that rain storm. The sound of the raindrops hitting the canvas, the smell of wet pavement and earth, the feel of misty rain on my arms, the sight of the little party lights glowing and the rain coming down, and the quiet of the evening. Everyone should get to have moments like these (and whatever gives you peace and happiness)!
Thanks for your words today as they remind me to “wake up each day and know that I am in the middle of summer!” It’s a special time.
Sally — That moment sounds wonderful! I love sitting on the porch, listening the rain. It’s one of my favorite summer pasttimes. I don’t like it so much in the winter. : ) Thank you so much for leaving a note today. I hope more rain hits your area and the areas of the fires.
Shawn