Don’t Let Go of Summer

Don’t Let Go of Summer

It seems like the summer is just getting into the full swing of things, and now our attention is on gearing up for Back to School.

I understand the need to prepare, plan, and make sure you, and the kids are ready for a successful year, but let’s not let summer go too soon.

There’s still a month of warm days with sunshine to get out and enjoy this time with the family.  August is when our gardens are brimming to overflowing levels with fresh veggies, a perfect time to have the kids help pick the veggies and enjoy the benefits of growing a garden.

August is perfect for days at the beach, neighborhood pool or sprinkler in the  front yard.  If you’ve waited to buy a pool or fun sprinkler for this year, now’s your time to invest!  It’s always amazing to see the transformation of the kiddos from the start of summer, to the start of the school year.  A little water and plenty of sunshine helps them grow as much as our gardens. 

Make a list of activities your family hasn’t gotten to this summer, and squeeze them in.  August can be a month full of back to school shopping, dentist and doctor visits to get ready for the school year, but it can also be a final push to enjoy the lazy days of summer.   Haven’t made it to an amusement park, spent a hot afternoon at the movies, had ice cream for dinner?  Now’s your chance!

We don’t need to teach our kids to dread August like many people dread Sunday nights before the start of the work week.  Let’s teach them there’s still plenty of fun to be had, even when school schedules are back on our minds.

But the fun doesn’t have to stop there.  After school, and  weekends are still time to enjoy fun things as a family.  I’ve seen many families treat summer as a fun time, and then back to school is serious business.  Take a step back.  We need to teach the kids the balance between getting our work done, and enjoying life!  Let’s teach them there’s a time and place for everything.  Just because school starts again, the fun shouldn’t end.  

Plan something fun for the family to look forward to after school has started.  Ice cream for dinner on the first day of school?  Weekend mini trip the first weekend?  Afternoon rituals everyone can look forward to?  Plan it while you are checking off the back to school list to avoid the Back to School Scaries.