Our Family’s Summer Fun List 2012! Are We Having Fun Yet?
I start off every summer with wonderful intentions and high hopes for wringing every last drop of summer fun out of the few short months before school starts up.
In my summertime delusion vision, my girls and I spend our days together making memories (all documented in glossy pics and HD video): picnics in the park, sand angels at the beach, long walks around town, make-believe play at every playground in the city and visits to all museums within a five-mile radius.
We’ll play hopscotch, badminton, and frisbee with the neighbors, eat homemade popsicles, ice cream and s’mores out on the deck, and go on zoo, aquarium, planetarium and arboretum adventures before our math fact and reading marathons (to prevent that insidious “summer slide” I keep reading about).
And on the second day, we’ll tackle the water parks – don’t forget the water parks!
Our days will flow from one joy-filled activity to the next. Television/computer/iPads/phones – who needs ‘em? Other than the occasional movie night complete with cuddles and popcorn, we’ll be far too busy bonding to let electronic diversions into our lives.
Beginning on June 21, I started pressuring myself to get out of the house and enjoy the summer in a big way. With July 4 coming up next week, I’m in full on panic mode. We haven’t even begun to check-off our summer fun list. What will become of us?
I’m beginning to think that my hyper-intensive focus on having fun this summer may be is strangling the joy right out. If your goal is to sabotage your summer and ruin a perfectly lovely season, you’ve come to the right place. Here are my top six tips:
- Focus on how much summer is already gone (1/3) rather than how much is left (? – don’t make me do fractions – it’s summer, remember?). Why should I let a little sunshine and warm weather turn me into a glass half-full person? I’m not emotionally prepared for that much change inside of 12 weeks.
- Pressure and bully yourself into getting out and doing fun things. Beat yourself up for not living up to your expectations of making wonderful summer memories for your family. Nothing is more fun than feeling pressure to relax and enjoy. “Have fun now, damnit,” is a time-honored inspirational rallying cry! Right?
- Ignore the fact that your children are perfectly happy not running around town doing all those “fun” things. Do not believe them when they tell you they are having fun throwing water balloons or sliding down the arms of the sofa for hours at a time. They, along with your well-meaning friends (see #4), obviously are delusional and don’t know what’s good for them.
- Do not give any credence to your kind friends who suggest you quit trying so hard and accept that you’re in transition-mode; that slowing down to summer speed takes some time. Listen instead to the nasty voice in your head that tells you “if you take any longer to slow down, summer will be over and you’ll be in mom fail.”
- Try to jam all the same activities you accomplished when your kids were in school into a summer break schedule. Also, be sure to obsess over not posting often enough on your blog and having nothing sane witty to say on Twitter and Facebook.
- Compare yourself mercilessly to other mom bloggers who somehow manage to take their kids to the beach, amusement park and science museum on the same day, prepare a picture-perfect summer meal and write a fabulous blog post about the day, complete with Instagrammed photos. Do not compare yourself favorably – that would ruin the effect.
I know what you’re thinking! And I agree! We need … a hammock. A hammock will fix all of this insanity angst and ensure we enjoy the summer! Think of all the great conversations we’ll have swinging on that hammock drinking lemonade, identifying the constellations and catching fireflies (that I’ve never seen a firefly within ten miles of our home notwithstanding).
Thank you for reading my mind! You. Are. Genius.
No?
Well then, smartypants, you must have other ideas. Please – save me from myself. How can I let go of my inner bully and salvage what is left of the summer? If you can’t help, please commiserate! How do you sabotage your summer joy and fun?
I’m both loving and feeling guilty that mine are in camp for the afternoon week. We haven’t checked off any “worthy” events yet this summer…unless I count sleepovers, beach volleyball, a weekend away, book club x 2kids, piano, gardening, card-making…but those don’t count. I mean, they’re not on your list either. Today I swear I am dragging them to a crowded neighborhood pool after camp and we’re going to have fun, damn it! Next week they go to my parents for a week of Camp Meemaw!
I am grateful you posted this! Took the edge off my inability to sleep in. Now back to my mental list of personal “shoulds”…happy summer.
Let me know how the pool outing goes! And, yes, none of those activities you mentioned “count.” Oh, well. I’m sure the answer is to keep pushing! Now, about this Camp Meemaw – are there any openings? A brochure? Meemaw must be looking for two more slightly adorable campers. I’ll send ‘em over!
This is my second summer of doing Camp Mom. We try for 1 museum a week, swimming, etc. I attempt to set up some sort of plan for the week-thank goodness my son is as scheduled as I am
But, despite all attempts the schedule gets tossed and we have an impromptu pajama day. Mainly because I have no motivation to do anything other than sitting and reading. Some of our friends also do Camp Mom and we get together with them at least once a week. Our workbooks are still sitting on a chair unopened-this is why I could never homeschool-but I feel no guilt about that. Is Algebra and Geometry and Biology really that important at 9? Nope- Maybe we’ll get to it after the Fourth. I’ve finally come to the conclusion that Summer should be kid-driven and fun. A wise person told me this-unfortunately it was my husband 
So, I try to go against my personality style and attempt to be more flexible-still working on that-have a great weekend! So-let go of that inner bully and put your paamas back on!
Ok, I’m taking your esteemed advice and going with a jammie day (or week). Here’s to kid-driven for the rest of the day at least! Happy 4th!
Bravo! PS-We need to get our kids together at some point. Time has gone by far too fast!
yes! let’s do a museum visit together so we can both check something off our list! Seriously, would love to get together!
Great! I’ll send you some dates via Facebook. Have a wonderful day!
I’m declaring today Funny Friday because this post was hysterical. The first two points on your list made me cackle out loud. Last night before I got the inspiration for my post I was commanding myself “be funny DAMMIT!” Cause nothing says spontaneous laughter like bullying yourself into it.
My tip: you already know it. Ease up on yourself!!
Thanks for the laughs!
I’ll tell ya what – your post that I read this a.m. was hysterical so you can apparently bully yourself into funny! you’ll have to show me how to do that some time! Yay Funny Friday!
We put this pressure on ourselves and turn want tos into have tos. I try and remind myself of that when I get dissapointed if something doesnt work out.
By the way, there is still way more time in the summer. I’m sure you’ll to get to alot on your list and if not, enjoy the other things that come up.
I’m very talented at turning want tos into have tos – is that a marketable skill?
Ahh, if only. Let me know if it ever is helpful other than making you feel bad.
Enjoy the (imperfect) moments together with your family. It is not how much you do together as long as you enjoying it. Apply K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Sweetie) concept. When you are in the moment with your children, favorite activities and events…it is amazing how long it lasts.
If possible, focus on the happiness and let go of the “messy hows.” All the planning in the world will not guarantee fun and happiness. Choose joy everyday with your children, try to relax and slow down; and, even if you are sitting in traffic…start singing a happy tune with them.
Am definitely in need of KISS! I love what you wrote about “all the planning … ” It’s so easy to forget that I can’t mastermind and control play and fun – as much as I want to. My girls love it when I’m in the moment and enjoying them. I hope to remember your kind words … thanks for commenting!
You are so very welcome. Thank you for being open to receiving. ♥ Angi
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Thanks so much for the shout out! I”m off to check out your site now!
I would commiserate with you if I weren’t so busy beating myself up for not meeting my own expectations with my kids…which I do, when I am not obsessing over getting enough done for my blog.
I say we send the kids to the waterpark and hang ou
And hang out in that hammock with a large bottle of wine
Done and done!!! I’m online buying that hammock right now!!
High hopes here as well for having an activity-filled summer with my two boys (ages 2 and 6). So far, only one trip to the coast, but have painted some suncatchers (yesterday), taken the 6-year-old to a couple of Lowe’s Build And Grow clinics and we did make it to the local beach which is only a half mile walk away for some water fun which was perfect for the day as it was hot and humid. I had picked out a dozen or so activities I could do with the kids, but only because I wanted to be sure if we did them that I had the supplies on hand to do them.
I can’t even imagine planning projects in advance with all the requisite supplies! Wow, mama! That alone earns you big brownie points in my book!
Your post makes me sad. Why so much beating yourself up? Please bounce back with a post of the fun stuff you do, and the things that make you laugh. I see the good stuff.
Thanks for seeing the good stuff. And the laughter. More to come.
The idea of a lazy summer is delusional! There is pressure to create memorable summer experiences and it isn’t happening…not at my house! I so relate! In fact, I think you would be able to relate to my most recent post at:
http://mytwicebakedpotato.com
Stop by and check it out!
Will do! Thanks for relating …