The last day of the kids' school year is tomorrow, and lo and behold, a catalog arrived today in the mail with the cover headline bellowing at me to "Get Set for Back to School!" Sorry, pushy catalog people, but I plan on savoring the summer instead of rushing it along, especially after the whirlwind of June activities that closed out the school year. (And I thought May was a busy month--HA!)
I'd like a simple, leisurely summer--and here's how I plan on creating it:
1. I will not fret about packing up for the town beach. Basically, we need sunscreen, swimsuits, thermoses, and towels. We do not need to pack up our car like we're embarking on a three-month safari.
2. I will relax the rules. If the kids want to stay up later than usual at night or sleep later than usual in the mornings, so be it! If they want to get messy outdoors, we've got a hose to rinse them off.
3. I will take full advantage of the public library. The library is a year-round treat for our family, but in summer, it's got free outdoor concerts, too.
4. I will remember that I am not the children's personal entertainer. Of course, we'll do plenty of fun things together, but certainly not 24/7, nor even 12/7. While I'm teaching my two online photography courses in July and August, I'll prepare the kids with plenty of books from the library, sketchbooks, and art supplies. And then there's the Great Outdoors, which I'll heartily encourage them to explore.
5. I will not get suckered into buying souvenirs. We don't need to buy things to prove that we visited places. Photographs capture the moment a lot better than some plastic trinkets made in China.
The "catalog people" are acting like summer should be rushed along to make way for fall. I, however, have other plans for the season.
How 'bout you? How do you keep your summer simple? I'd love to hear about it!
You might have missed...
- 20 Ways to Simplify Your Summer
- Summer Unplugged: Good Books for the Beach (and Beyond)
- The Roadmap to Fewer (and Greener) Souvenirs
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Join me in July: My online photography course, How to Take Better Photos of Nature and the World Around You begins on Monday, July 6th! No fancy camera is necessary (you can even use your smart phone). Ready to take better pictures? Sign up today at the link.
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