I have a confession: summer kind of stresses me out. I feel the pressure to plan the perfect vacation, pick the right camps and somehow get work done with the kids around more. This year I caught myself after reading a post about how to have a seventies summer. Summers should be about taking it easy and not stressing, right?
So I thought about what we really want to do this summer. And I came up with this list of 10 (non-hardcore) goals.
1. Take real time off
When you work from home, it can seem impossible to take time off. But this summer I want to take my first “real” break since starting this blog 5 years ago. We are renting a beach house in August and I plan to read lots of books and enjoy the kids without even thinking about work.
I also am putting off some of my projects until fall so I don’t feel stressed this summer. Come September, I will have both my kids in school full-time, so that’s a great time to ramp up the work.
2. Clear out stuff
We had a fire threat recently and I was worried we’d need to be evacuated. This made me think: what are our most prized possessions? And where exactly are they stored?
We have a small place so it’s easy for it to get filled with too much stuff. I’ve been picking different areas in the house and going through them and choosing what needs to go. My goal is to clear out what we don’t use and have a good feel for where everything is by summer’s end. The organization of it all will take a bit longer.
3. Get started on a photo project
One project that has been hanging over my head since the dawn of digital cameras is photo organization. We take lots of pictures and then store them on our computer. But that’s about it. For the last two years, I have made yearly photo books but I’d like to do that for years past and store photos and videos in an organized way. I know I can’t be alone on this one!
4. Get summer cooking
I’m aiming for some new meals for summer grilling, especially sides. One side I have been making is this black bean salad (I add less oil and skip the corn). I have goals to work on a roasted potato salad without mayonnaise, a cold lentil salad and a go-to (summer) kale salad with fruit.
5. Lunches with kids
We will do plenty of packed lunches while we are on the go but there will be days we will eat at home. I’m going to take advantage of this to hopefully get more lunch ideas for when school starts. So we will have make-your-own sandwich/salad/wrap days to spur new ideas.
6. Time with hubby
I was asked to give a short presentation for the Dairy Council of California this past Friday in Napa and my hubby and I turned it into an adults only trip. It was so relaxing to get away without kids. I hope to slip in more time together this summer with a less tight schedule.
7. Relaxed dinners
The other night we were having leftovers so I decided to take the kids to our community pool around 5:30. There was no pressure to come back because there’s no homework to do, no cooking required and no reason to get up early.
I don’t want to be rushing to get dinner on the table like I usually do. I will invite the kids to help more and leave room for spontaneity.
8. Go to the beach once a week
Last summer when Big A asked to go to “a beach without sand” I knew we didn’t see the ocean enough. People assume because I live in San Diego we are at the beach all the time but it’s a good 20-minute drive — and kind of high maintenance — so we tend to go to the pool instead.
To remedy this I’m picking one day each week to be “beach day.” We may not go every week but hopefully by summer’s end, we will have been quite a bit.
9. Enjoy the kids
My kids are 5 and 7 now and they are the funniest people I know. I feel like I’m in that sweet spot of parenting this post articulates so well. They like to be with me, still want to cuddle and have relatively few tantrums compared to the toddler days. I thought about doing more camps but we decided to have a less structured summer. When my patience runs thin, and it already has, I will remind myself of how short-lived this phase is.
10. Get in touch with friends
I’ve lived in a variety of places and have dear friends all over the country. Since having kids, I haven’t been as good at keeping in touch. So my goal is to call friends and reconnect before school, homework and work overwhelm me once again.
What are your goals for summer (it’s okay not to have any!)?
Get your family meals organized this summer (and kids cooking) with The Family Dinner Solution: How to Create a Rotation of Dinners Meals Your Family Will Love
I didn’t know you lived in SD! I live in Tucson and we are planning a week in your town in October. Through VRBO we rented a house in the Mission Bay area. My parents are joining us as well. Really looking forward to it! It’s not my first time there, but the first time to really explore the area (with kids, parents and hubby!) Anyway, I always struggle with summer too. Once the kids are old enough to have a year or two of school under their belts, it’s really hard to go back to the days of 24/7 togetherness. We always do a week of Girl Scout day camp, which is always an awesome experience for my girl, and a great value. Besides that, we make a list of things to do and try to get to them all. In the school year, we don’t make time for big outings like the Children’s Museum and Peter Piper Pizza. Also, matinee movies, the roller skating rink, and the library. I get some childcare for my boy, which makes expeditions less stressful and more fun for me. Also, I pay once or twice for a house cleaner. We get the house messy when we’re all home and I can’t keep up with it! I figure since I’m not paying for preschool or other school related expenses, I deserve it! I bake more with my girl, as it’s a fun stay-home project. And I keep dinner simple, so we can swim in the afternoon when the pool is warm and in the shade. By the way, Tucson is too hot this time of year for all the classic summertime activities, so we look for indoor fun or swimming! One last thing, my daughter doesn’t need a nap everyday, but we still have “rest time” from 1-3. She has to stay in her room and play or sleep. It’s enforced “no screen time” and an interruption-free time for me. It also reminds her how fun books, legos and other toys are, and how nice alone time can be. Some days we skip if we are out, but I think I’ll never give it up completely!
Hey Katie. I hope you enjoy your stay in SD. Let me know if you have any questions about what to do. I also have started quiet time in the afternoon for kids to play or read. It’s a must for me and them!
First, it was so great to meet you in person during the Dairy Council of CA presentation last week!! I have many more things to talk to you about! Video/photo projects are on my list as well. Two years ago I switched to a Mac and iphoto and iMovie and it has helped tremendously. You can rate photos as you go and when it’s time to create the year-end photo book, just search for highly rated pics. It’s still a lot of work, but a much better system.
The past few years, we’ve created a summer fun list on posterboard that hangs in the kitchen and we discuss our progress during family dinners – from evening bike rides to visiting our favorite museums and traditions like eating ice cream for dinner one night – it helps us be intentional about our time.
Wishing you a relaxing and enjoyable summer!
Great to meet you too LeAnne! I love the summer list. I’m not the best planner so that will be a good reminder of some fun stuff to do.
I love this post because it gives me so many ideas and it’s very similar to how I’m feeling this summer as well. I, too, am in a “sweet spot” with my kids and wanting to slow down and enjoy it. I purposely didn’t schedule too many camps this summer so we could have some downtime. I’ve definitely heard a lot of “I’m bored”, but it’s actually music to my ears. Boredom is good! I also love LeAnne’s idea of a family summer fun list. Thanks for the inspiration.
Have a great summer Sally. We are getting into the groove here. By the time we have it down school will start ; )
It was stressing me out today that June is almost over, I feel you! There is a lot of pressure on summer, especially here in the Midwest. These goals are great. I am curious though, is there something wrong with corn?
Anne — I don’t add corn because my husband doesn’t like it ; ) Nothing wrong with it nutritionally in my book.
Oh thank god! My kids love it.
I can relate to each one of your goals! I like your balanced approach. Best wishes for a great summer with your family!
Thanks Lisa! Same to you!
Excellent ideas and so very close to home! I also work both in and outside of the home and you’re right – so hard to turn ‘off’ and enjoy 🙂 Even when it comes to reading, I find myself reading YOUR BOOK or other nutrition related pieces. I miss the days of chick lit (or even chick flicks for that matter). With a busy toddler and another due this October, I know things will not become any slower. This is a nice reminder to savor each moment as we receive it.
The picture org is a great idea. Not sure when I’ll make that happen, but one day 🙂 For now, we are enjoying the beach multiple times a week as it is only a hike away – and a great way to tire out the munchkin!
Happy Summer!
@JesicaLeaRD