I know some of you gals have some pretty lofty goals for the summer. Last year about this time, I remember reading one blogger who was going to work on teaching her kids French and spend time on other academic pursuits. I'm pretty sure I made a hasty exit from her site and retreated to my own land of mediocrity.
Call me crazy, but I believe that summer time is not all about improving study skills. I believe that a healthy dose of boredom can actually be beneficial for kids. That watching more movies than usual won't harm their brain cells. And that having root beer floats and popsicles should be mandatory. Paper plates should be eaten on as often as possible. Forts made of sheets can stay up in the living room for several days as long as it's being used and Moms are allowed in every now and then.
Now don't get me wrong. I like structure and I think we all benefit from it. I don't think teenagers have the right to stay up all night and sleep until noon every day of the summer. And the little ones shouldn't be in their pajamas EVERY day, all day. We needn't be eating cereal out of pots and pans because we're too lazy to get the dishes done. But somewhere between hyper-scheduling camps, vacation Bible schools and family vacations, kids and adults need down time. We need to regroup and enjoy life a little bit.
I've found that looking at my calendar with a critical eye is an important tool. There have been many summers in which taking a vacation was not an option for us so we had to come up with fun alternatives. We set up "Fun Fridays" as a way to do some activities that would have been put off until never had we not gotten them on the calendar. But just as importantly are the Blank Spaces in the calendar in which we let Summer just happen.
All that being said, Summer is a great time to teach a new skill, like operating a washing machine. (G.T. will be given this task when he gets home from camp.) Perhaps your child could learn to measure ingredients or mow the lawn, or learn to babysit or ride a bike. There are memories to be made and life skills to be gained with just a little bit of planning.
Today's Small Thing is to simply set a small goal for yourself or your family. My summertime motto is "Aim Low," but it's a good idea to aim at something. Don't set yourself up for failure by creating a monster of impossible expectations. Find something, just one thing, that is manageable and attainable.
POINTS: 30 for writing down one small goal
BONUS POINTS: 10 for sharing it in the comments, if it's not too personal to share.
I'm going to read one book, for pleasure.
