I recently took a peek at our summer calendar and almost started to hyperventilate.
The first day of summer is tomorrow, and nearly every weekend from now through late August is already penciled in with birthday parties and BBQs, road races and camping trips, sleepovers at Grandma’s and blog events.
All good things, mind you, but, yikes, there are a lot of them.
What ever happened to the lazy, hazy days of summer? The days of running around barefoot, of impromptu picnics, of deciding on a last minute beach trip or visit to the ice cream parlor? The days of inviting friends over for sangria on the deck while the kids run through the sprinkler — without having to schedule it weeks in advance — or deciding on a whim to walk into town to check out a summer concert?
The whole thing makes me feel profoundly sad. Not to mention stressed.
Summer used to be about relaxation. But now it feels like it’s all about squeezing in as many “fun, outdoor, summery” activities as we can during the all-too-brief nine-week window that is (at least for us) summer.
And for those of us who work full-time, those nine weeks really just boil down to 18 weekend days.
18 days.
And that’s why our weekends look like they do.
Yes, I could – and can still – change things. I can cancel or back out of a few commitments. I can say no. And I probably will.
Because what will my kids remember most about their summer? Will Buddy really remember that day he went to a giant and crowded water park? Or the lazy Sunday spent making homemade ice cream or the warm summer night he camped with his dad and dog in the backyard?
And what about me? While I can’t take the summer off from work (as much as I’d love to), how can I find — and maybe even recreate — those relaxing and lazy summers of my childhood? There has to be a way to bring some of it back, right?
So instead of a “Summer Bucket List” like I’ve done in the past, this year I am vowing to do the following:
- Shut my phone off when I come home so I can enjoy the late day summer sun with my kids, whether we’re playing basketball in the driveway, swinging high into the trees, or unleashing our inner artists with sidewalk chalk art.
- Ignore the mess. The summer goes by too fast. And there will always be laundry. It can sit an extra day or two.
- More fire pit singalongs and s’mores, fewer “to do” and errand lists.
- Less rushing. More pausing and enjoying the moment. If we’re late, we’re late. It’s not the end of the world.
- More picnics and dinners on the deck.
- Ask my kids what THEY want to do. I know I’m often the cruise director, but how often do I stop and ask them – especially Buddy – whether they really want to go into the city for a Duck Boat Tour? Maybe he’d rather just go for a family bike ride?
- Put my blogging life on hold the third week of July while we’re on the Cape — and maybe other times throughout the summer. I know you guys will understand.
Sheri says
I just said this to my husband the other night. It’s already crazy and my kids aren’t even out of school yet. Do I seriously have to pencil the camp out in the back yard? Sad. I agree, the to-do list can go out the window. I’m more likely not to notice all the mess if we’re outside all of the time. Save it for a rainy day.
Kaella (KaellaOnTheRun) says
I agree!!! Summers fly by and my little guy is at such a fun age I really want to slow down and enjoy it with him. I’m leaving my phone at home and allowing him to stay a few extra minutes at the park 🙂