June 4, 2023

Summer Survival

With one week of official summer vacay from school under my belt, I'm panicking a little about how the kids and I are going to survive the loooooong summer days.  Well, specifically me.  Either I'm going to lose my mind or end up yelling my head off at a certain someone each day.  Who is now a preschool graduate, by the way.
I'd rather not yell or stress-eat myself into an even bigger paunch, so I've been mentally compiling a list of things I want to do with the kids this summer.  It's been a blessing and a curse that Jude needs to nap every day, blessing because obviously it's a bit a break for me, but a curse because we're stuck planning events around naptime, or else skipping the nap all together, which can be disastrous.  And why, pray tell, little man won't you transition from the car seat to the crib when asleep anymore?

I want to engage in activities that are simple, no big day trips to the big city for big meltdowns or the like, but bare-bones summer activities that I remember enjoying as a kid.  Plus, I'm just too lazy to investigate and enroll and taxi the kids to organized activities.  Here's my vague list:
  • Visit creeks and natural bodies of water as much as possible.  Fortunately we have a wade-able creek within walking distance that the boys enjoy playing in, even just with sticks and stones.
  • Go hiking.  Pennsylvania is full of wooded trails filled with wildlife and plants to identify.  I'm also an advocate of walking around one's neighborhood, encouraging the kids to notice things they might not otherwise, like changes in flora and fauna, or if a new neighbor has moved in.  Or rainbows.
  • Play in the dirt, anywhere, not just in the backyard.
  •  Make messy crafts, especially outside.  String up a drop cloth on the clothesline for painting, get out the dyes to tie-dye, or make papier mache sculptures.
  • Do one special trip every other week, like the aquarium, a museum or other venue.  And do it with friends!
What tips do you have for surviving the summer with kids?

4 comments:

  1. Morris Arboretum! I've been meaning to float that one past you for a while.
    http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/gardens_treeadventure.shtml

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  2. Looks like your list is off to a great start! I am wondering how we'll do this summer as well. I think lots of play dates and zoo trips {we got a membership}. We do plan on going camping, I hope at least twice? Possibly a road trip, but I haven't ironed that out yet. And if all else fails, hosing her down. I mean, letting her run through the sprinkler in the backyard.

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  3. I think those are all some very fabulous things on your Summer to-do list! Some of those (like walking around the neighborhood, doing crafts outside, etc) can be done daily so that definitely helps time go by faster :)

    Hopefully you enjoy (and survive) the summer!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi I'm Heather! Please email me when you get a chance, I have a question about your blog! LifesABanquet1(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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