Are you ready? Do you have a plan?
As a teacher I'm supposedly going to have all this free time when school gets out. But usually when I find myself with extra free time, I squander it and get nothing done. Well, not so in the summer! (ha ha, yeah, right)
- I put together a master schedule that includes all of our activities - because we don't often sit still and if you need a ride or want to have a sleepover, you have to check the schedule.
- I post the Reading Chart - it has 50 days on it. The boys mark off each day they read. They get rewarded at the halfway point and the end. (This helps with their summer homework
- I hang the Things To Do When I'm Bored list - I update it yearly as they get older. I won't let them sit around and play video games or watch TV all day!
- I make a Chore Chart - one of the least favorite Things To Do, but these are required. I really ask so little of them!
- This year, I'm going to teach my older boys how to do laundry - some of you have already done this, but sometimes teaching my boys how to do something is more frustrating than just doing it myself.
- I'm also going to have my oldest plan a complete meal for our family. I had to do that for a project in a human civics class (I never took home ec) And I learned a lot from the experience.
- And all of that stuff is just for my boys!!
Here's what I hope to accomplish this summer, besides all the baseball games:
>> a lot of writing in the mornings while they sleep in, yay!
>> squeeze in a pilates class or two a week - wish me luck!
>> shop for myself once or twice
>> do several book events!! yay!
>> visit a blog friend or two, I'll keep you posted!
>> and tackle my basement!
The basement's been on my list every summer, but this is the year I can't put it off any longer. I only have about a year left with my oldest and I have to organize all his pictures and memories and (waaaaaahhhhh!) It's okay. I'll be all right. He sounds like he wants to go to college closer to home, so we'll still get to see him. I look forward to seeing how he turns out!
What plans do you have for the summer?
17 comments:
Keep them busy so they don't bug you all summer.
They'll have to take care of themselves one day, so they'll need to know how to do laundry and make meals. Life is not all take out. (Although there will be plenty of that, I'm sure.)
Hi Tara,I didn't know that you were a teacher. Hope you squeeze in a few Pilate classes.
It's good that you're planning to teach them how to do the laundry, and planning meals. I never receive any formal lessons in the meal planning (I slept my way through Home Ec), so I just ended up asking myself "What Would My Mother Do?"
And I love that you have multiple book events planned. My next one isn't until 2017.
Enjoy your summer-Hope you get those Pilate classes in.
Hi Tara - well planned I say that is .. and yes you'll be sending out very good potential boyfriends/husbands into the world ... good luck with the basement and the writing .. and all the things - I'd add some more chores to their list ... but don't tell them - more writing time for you!?!? Cheers Hilary
If they are typical boys, you'll get to write until noon.
Love your reading chart! I need to get back to that with our youngest. I used to be so diligent with summer reading, signing my oldest three up at the library for the summer, etc... Think I'm a bit burnt out with parenting. lol No, not really, but thank you for the reminder and motivation to devise my own summer plan.
Keep me informed if any of those book events are in my neck of the woods too. I'll come keep you company!
My kids are lazy slugs all summer long. We are those people who panic the last week and get everything done. It's 11:00 am and they're all still in bed. They'll probably roll out at 1:00 like ruffled bears foraging for food.
Good luck with the basement. I got a shoe box with each kid's name on it and I put all their memory book items in it. I figure when I am in a nursing home, I'll have free time and get all that stuff done.
Now there's something I could try. A reading chart! I just usually write down the ones I've read and reviewed, but maybe a chart would be more motivating.
Good on you for teaching your kids laundry! My 39-year-old ex still doesn't know how to do laundry, since his overbearing, Harpy mommy always does it for him. I tried to teach him a few times, but he insisted he couldn't learn, and always claimed his parents had screamed at him when he'd tried to learn before and not done it right. Yes, because that completely cancels out the possibility of learning how to do laundry oneself, and we should always let our dysfunctional family's temper tantrums dictate the rest of our lives.
Diane's comment made me laugh! --And Carrie Anne's.
Movies! Oh and also getting things ready for release of my first book in the fall. That's also important. Nice methods to keep your kids active and helpful Tara.
Sounds like a plan. My kids always had sports things going on in the summer and they worked with my husband when they could. All of my boys took home economics electives in school so they all could cook a little for themselves. Laundry lessons were given by me and they all learned how to do it all. Sounds like you're doing a great job preparing them for what's ahead.
I haven't set a plan other than to finish the spring cleaning, sell everything I don't need, and oh yeah, write. And with so many projects, that's the easy part. Still trying to conquer marketing - :(
Hope you have a wonderful summer and meet all your goals!
Good luck! If you're like me, then having this to-do list will motivate you.
Good planning!!! I hope it works out. My plans somehow get squished pretty quickly.
Sounds like a good plan. Good luck and have a great summer.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
What great ideas you've got there! I'd love to see your Things To Do When I'm Bored list... although, my kids are probably too old for that. The youngest is out with his friends a lot and my oldest will - hopefully - be getting a job!
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