I am a planner. I love to plan ahead, to know what to expect, and to book that next event…you get the idea. However, this summer, I am officially winging it.
Since my oldest was little, my approach to summer has always involved a camp spreadsheet and summer camps booked before spring break begins. However, last summer, my then 12 and 8-year-olds complained enough about my plans for them that I decided I was done. We spent a lot of money and time signing them up for camps and coordinating with friends to be there together.
My girls will have a lot more free time this summer because I decided not to plan too much for them. Instead, if they are interested in something, they can tell me about it, and I’ll look into it. If they want to hang out with the kids in the neighborhood, they can. Go bike riding with school friends, sure!
This may seem impossible in a household with two full-time working parents, but I do have a plan. Here’s what’s in the works.
First, we have a mini vacation planned for each month of the summer. It’s become a tradition that we go away once school gets out. This year, it coincides with Father’s Day weekend, and we are heading to their grandparents’ house in Florida for a long, relaxing weekend. A great way to start the summer! In July, we’ll take our annual trip to Block Island, and in August, we will head to hang with extended family at the Jersey Shore.
Next, I’ve booked a few half-day camps for my 9-year-old to ensure she isn’t “bored” at home or spending too much time on a screen. She’ll do a week of basketball, an adventure camp in town, and a week of cooking camp. These aren’t consecutive, and they leave our schedules open and flexible for whatever pop-up plans may come up. This also means that when we have family visiting, she will be home to spend time with them instead of committing to a summer camp.
My older daughter is capable of managing her social calendar and has already aged out of a lot of the camps she went to as a kid. She’ll spend some time at a softball camp and hopes to get to the beach as much as possible. Outside of that, with two parents who work remotely, she can have friends over or get rides to their houses.
