Day 4: Parent’s University - Summer Fun

Posted on 06.18.08 in Parents University and there are 9 comments.

In all honesty, this week my summer hasn’t been much fun.

Those images that run through your head of carefree summers with the kids, probably don’t resemble my reality. We aren’t frolicking in the yard in our perfect clothes and smiling happily in our nice clean house all day long.

No, this week, my house is filled with kids sitting in various chairs in timeout, my baby screaming for reasons known only to him and my sick husband who has had to excavate the laundry pile that is Mt. Washmore just to get into bed at night.

What is to blame for all this chaos?

Lack of planning

I didn’t plan well and ended up seriously overcommitting myself this week. As a result, I haven’t gotten much sleep and I’ve been grumpy - particularly with the kids who have copied my grumpiness - which then enhances my grumpiness…

We had cereal for dinner because I hadn’t planned dinner and was caught off guard when 5:00 hit.

I didn’t plan to do anything fun today...so we didn’t do anything fun today.

If You Fail To Plan, You Can Plan To Fail

I’m sure you’re heard that one a million times. But it’s oh-so-true.

So, in order to make this summer a fun one, here’s what I’m going to do: P-L-A-N!

1. I will wake up early to pray, be proactive and prepare for the day.
2. I will plan activities for the week that we will do.
3. I will plan our meals for each week.
4. I’ll work with kids to come up with a list of things they want to learn this summer and I’ll figure out a way to teach them.
5. I will plan and prepare for different crafts we can do each week. (This is a true sign of my love for my kids. I’m SO not crafty.)

Tomorrow

My plan for tomorrow is to take the kids to the pool and then we’ll have a movie night tomorrow night.

Simple, but fun.

What Are Your Plans For Summer Fun?

What fun things have you done so far? What fun things are you looking forward to? I need help and I’m sure others do to. Please share your ideas in a post on your blog or in the comments.

The Comments:

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Since we’re big on conserving gas this summer, most of our time is spent at the pool in our apartment complex.

I have to admit, I’m not the big, exciting plans type.  I’m the hang out, chill, and live easy type. 

I’ve been finding a lot of joy in glancing out the window to see my little girl running around sweaty with the neighborhood kids.

Swim team is built in summer fun for us.  The kids love it and see all their friends at least once a day for two hours if swim practice fits in the day.  I kick back with a book or chat with the lovely parents while the coach does all the work.  God bless Coach Rob.

Truthfully, I’m not enjoyinng the summer, because of some intense work I must do, but at least my children are.

We’re spending lots of time in the backyard (with sprinklers and squirt guns and the slip-n-slide!), going to the pool and the park, heading to the library at least once a week, and having friends over to play at least twice a week. 

We are having fun so far.  There is a part of me that LOVES the freedom of summer, with no schedules....and there is a part of me that ABHORS the freedom of summer, with no schedules! 

Sleepovers: here, there, out of town.

I actually watched a movie with my wife on Tuesday night, and get this, no kids were there.  I watched a non-Disney movie!!  YEEEAAAHHHH!!!!

We watched the entire movie, uninterrupted, snuggled, and went to bed early for a change.

It was awesome.

Hey, I like cereal.  No problem there.

And the pile of clothes on our bed?....it all looks the same when I close my eyes.  No big deal.

Kids in time-out, baby screaming?  Our angels?....No way.  I don’t believe it.

Give yourself a break dear.  I admire you.

since I’m not a parent I posted a few things that inspire me about other parents.

I’m recovering from back surgery, so for the most part I’m sitting around watching my sisters’ summer activities--theater camp, karate, horseback riding, swimming and bike riding and all that. I AM going to take a trip up to Tallahassee with some friends from high school this weekend, so I’m pretty excited about that!

We’ve had a good summer so far. My 5-year old went to our park district’s golf camp. I wasn’t really thrilled with the idea at first. However, it was reasonably priced and well run, plus Ben loved it.

Spontaneous games of football and catch, plus trips to the park are my favorites. More good times are on the way.

I’m swimming a LOT, planning to go dancing with friends at Gruene Hall, working on my dissertation (which, if not always fun, is starting to be really satisfying), and going to Peru in July!

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