Oh What Do You Do In The Summertime?

Is It Really Summer Break?

School has been out for 10 days here, however, today was our first "real" day of Summer Vacation.

We are home from Jeff and Alison's wedding ,Curt and Carmen returned to Michigan, Mr Riley is home, and the reality of daily life hit today.... It's Summer Vacation!
Most years, I start summer vacation with more of a plan than I have today. I did, however, take out my notebook and review some of the notes I have been making for Summer of 2008. The notes helped me to look at the calendar, look at our lives, and make some summer plans
I love the slower pace summer brings, yet realize that if I don't make a plan for summer, the days will run me. Some years, I have had a long list of how the summer should go, what we will do, see, and learn. Other years, I actually have a plan to do as little as possible. Somewhere in the middle of absolutely nothing and being constantly on the go is always the best summer for us.
Call me crazy, but I LOVE to have my kids home for summer. I LOOK FORWARD to the last day of school. I LOVE not having our lives revolve around school, homework, lessons, etc.

Here are the areas I am addressing this summer. Most of them, I address each summer, generally with an adaptation for the ages and needs of the children. I have found that the same plan rarely works from year to year.

• Snacking and Meals I find that I have to give a window of time for breakfast and lunch to be complete and give a limit to the number and type of snacks. Otherwise, the kitchen is open 24/7 and always cluttered. I have been known to place a "Kitchen Is Closed" sign on the refrigerator. Summer is a great time to teach healthy snack choices and habits. For example, one snack must be fruit, yogurt, cheese, etc, and the other can be Ice Cream, Popsicles, etc.
• TV, Computer, Video Games This is the biggest Tiger to tame when children are home. Last summer, we gave the girls each 20 $1 bills every Sunday night. For each hour they watched TV, used the Computer or played video games, they paid $1. Any money they had at the end of the week, they could keep. I haven't decided what summer of 2008 will bring in this area, however, I told the girls I would have a plan by Wednesday. I am incorporating some sort of monetary reward for reading books this year. Megan is a reading machine, so I had better analyze this one carefully. I refuse to let the TV<>
• Bed Times Gotta have one. Staying up all night does not fly here.
• Sleeping In Not every day, although sometimes I love the quiet mornings where I can get a project done before the children even think about being awake.
• Neighborhood Kids Not all day and not every day. I like having my car in the garage so they cannot tell we are home. I have to give a start and stop time or my house becomes a daycare center. Chores have to be done before anyone can come over to play or anyone from here can go play.
• Combating Summer Brain Drain We Stay brushed up on reading and academic skills. Every year is different, however, one thing is consistent...a weekly trip to the library where we check out BOOKS and maybe 1 video per child. This summer, Megan will spend each day working on her Multiplication Facts with Katherine helping her (she can use the review, also) Katherine is reading books from her 6th Grade Suggested Reading list. Some years, I get Workbooks and others, we just step up the reading. We always pick a book to read together, one that I read out loud to them, or we listen to on CD or Tape
• New Skills This summer, I am teaching my girls to use a sewing machine. I am sure we will do some baking and crafts, as well. Every summer, I make an effort to teach a new skill to my children or to have them attend a camp where they will learn a new skill or have an experience that will spark their creativity and enrich their minds.
• A Way To Stay Cool Every summer plan needs to involve a water source...a way to play and stay cool. We go to the beach 1-2 times per week and swim in our backyard pool every day. I like to go in the pool in the evenings after dinner when the kitchen is cleaned up. It is a nice way to end a summer day.
• Taming The Laundry Monster Summer brings piles of laundry with the kids in and out to play, sweating, swimming, playing in dirt, etc. I have a rule that they get ONE Pool towel per day and can have TWO swimsuits (one for the day and one for the evening) if they keep them hung up. I have hooks in the bathroom shower to make hanging wet suits and towels easy. Unless we are going someplace special...ONE outfit per day and, as is the rule 365 days per year....Clothes go in 1) Drawers, 2) Hampers 3) On Hangers 4) On Bodies...NEVER on floors. It seems that in the summer, my children think that they can take a break from keeping things neat and clean, regardless of what they have been doing all school year.
• Strengthening My Relationships With My Children I use summer to grow closer to my children and to teach them the things they need to know before they return to school in the fall. Katherine starts middle school this year.... Summer is not long enough to teach her all that she needs to know for the cruel reality she is about to enter.
• Personal Projects I have a few for this summer:
• 1) Photo Organizing: One Afternoon or Evening per week will be spent sorting and/or organizing photos
• 2) Megans Room Complete decorating her room. Paint, Curtains, Headboard, Pictures on Walls, etc.
• 3) Exercise Continue with my exercise routine. Try some new classes at new times
• 4) Doctor Appointments For Me Still lots going on I need to figure out. One visit to the Doctor begins a battery of tests. Plus August (my Birthday month) always brings a Mammogram
• 5) Hang a Few More Things on My Walls I have a mirror and some pictures that I think I have finally decided where I want them (I have only lived her 4 years) so it is time to put them up. I would rather have naked walls for years than hang things up just for the sake of hanging them.
• 6) Sort Closets and Drawers TIme to Have the girls try on shoes and clothes to figure out what fits, what can be passed down, and what can go to the Red Balloon Consignment Shop. I happy to report that this is almost complete. We went through the drawers and closets of Katherine and Megan today. This prepares me for projects #7 and #8
• 7) Assemble a Middle School Wardrobe With Katherine This is her first year not in a uniform (whaaa) and the inevitable is happening...she is growing up. I will be watching sales and teaching her how to bargain hunt.
• 8) Get Megans School Uniforms Ready Long before August, I like to get all the uniforms in place. The Uniform Policy for 2008-09 is considerably stricter (hooray) It is almost identical to the one we had at Private School. As a parent, I love Uniforms for so many reasons. I would like to see mandatory uniforms through grade 12.
• 9) Watch For School Supply Sales Before the Tax Free Holiday, I always purchase School Supplies. If I wait, there are shortages of everything and the stores look like a bomb went off in them. No thanks.
• 10) Working on Sponsorship Recruitment for The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.
• 11) My OFFICE! Organize and Clean! I still have all the last day of school piles sitting here next to my computer work area. For as much time as I spend on or near this computer, my office should be immaculate...well...it is NOT, but I will change that this summer!

Striking a balance between having a laid back summer and having too much structure is always a challenge for me. If I go too far to either side, the summer is not enjoyable. Most important is that becomes a true change of pace for children out of school, one that provides new opportunities and experiences that are not as easily found during the school year

Please share any ideas you have for summer schedules and activities. How do you make sure summer is enjoyable at your house?

Happy Summer Planning Everyone!