On Pinterest and Insta, I’ve seen a lot of posts on summer to-do lists. You know, make s’mores, go to the beach, have a barbecue, etc. This is a far cry from my typical summer growing up, which was mostly sitting around while my parents worked or just being parked in front of the tv and out of the way. While summer was great because you didn’t have to go to school, it also meant being lonely and bored most of the time.
In June and July for a working parent, you have to figure out some sort of childcare. For a SAHP, you have to be cruise director all day for two solid months. Not to mention, fending off Summer Slide. I can see why parents really hate extended summer break because the school year has so much more workable structure.
Just like holidays, it really is up to us parents to make summer fun. So with that in mind, here are Mary’s and my summer to-do lists.
Mary’s List
Pool Daze
Our swim/tennis club is officially open! It’s our first year with a family pass to our local pool club. I’m hoping that this spot will be one of our summer regulars, especially for playdates. We haven’t had consistent access to a pool until now, so even though our kids already love swimming, this will give them a chance to build their strength, challenge themselves, and maybe even go in the deep end. Goal: Get our kids more comfortable and confident in the water.
Field Trip
We have a family membership to the Fernbank Museum this year since the kids are really into science and nature (and us too, who are we kidding?). I’m excited for their upcoming events and exhibits, specifically Numbers in Nature: A Mirror Maze and Reptile Day. Goal: Actually use those annual passes we all sign up for.
Vacay Mode
We have a trip planned to Hilton Head, SC coming up. We’ve never been, but many people say it’s one of their favorite places. It’ll be hard to beat our past summers at Anna Maria Island, but we’re excited to see what it’s all about. Goal: Explore a new beach.
Find Your Cricket
Inspired by the Bluey episode, Cricket, my son is figuring out what he truly enjoys. He found it fascinating how Rusty loved the game of cricket so much that he would practice it for hours and not be bored with it. So this summer, he wants to try anything and everything to see if it will spark the same passion that Rusty showed. So far, he gravitates towards construction and science experiments, but he also got a bow and arrow recently. Goal: Help discover his own “cricket”.
Master Class
As we take off for summer blog break, I can catch my breath and refocus. I’m slowly chipping away at my TBR pile and completing my ADHD certification. Goal: Close out this certification so I can share with you all in the Fall.
Patti’s List
The road trip is happening!
I’ve been planning this East Coast trip for a few months and have had to rework it recently to fit in extended family events. I’ve managed to plan a ton of really cool activities in a two week period, but let us not forget about best-laid plans. Goal: Stay relaxed, focusing on my girls having a great experience; instead of stressing about potential meltdowns and car fights.
Camp
My girls have done camps through our local parks and rec for the last two summers. We have three full weeks booked, plus swim lessons. This year, we’re introducing tennis (because they asked for it) and I’m not sure how they will take to it. Goal: Try to work on beginner mindsets and learning something just for fun.
Homework
Last year, my girls each had BrainQuest Summer Workbooks: Between PreK and Kindergarten. This year, they have Between K and 1st grade. I’m hoping that their literacy is good enough that they can do these in the car or for about 20 minutes each morning for consistency. Goal: Work on some weak spots academically and build more confidence in their reading.
Make the weekends count
After working a full week, I know it’s really exhausting to plan something every weekend. But when I do my calendar updates, I realize that I only have a limited number of open weekends before school starts. I’m using my playdates strategically so I can bypass hearing “I’m bored”. Goal: Have a good mix of family, friends, fun activities, and trips so they actually have something fun to share when they get back to school.
We’ll be on blog break until July 2nd. Until then, catch us and the family on Instagram and TikTok.
Love, Mary & Patti
Child(ish) Advice 
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