Summer vacation is in full swing and I have a confession. I’m not for all of the structured activities that I’ve seen floating on every one of my social timelines. I don’t particularly care about the “summer slide,” I’ve printed out worksheets but have not policed their completion and probably won’t. I’ve let them sleep in until noon, enjoying the quiet and the break from their rigorous schedules that is our life for about 10 months of the year.
Like every other mother that halfway lives her life on the internets, is smitten with Pinterest and Facebook groups, and can withstand convos with other moms about how important it is to keep structure over the summer I grabbed those workbooks with lofty goals of having daily work hours and have failed miserably the past three weeks. I may just print off one of those summer bucket lists just to say I did. It won’t get completed either. However, I have made a conscious effort to make sure we spend time outdoors reducing screen time, that’s about as strong as it has been so far.
They need a rest and so do I.
To be honest, I don’t remember doing work over the summer. Outside of reading books my summer memories are of playing outdoors, jumping double dutch, swimming, traveling and hanging out with friends. Ever seen those memes where they compare how growing up in the 80s looks compared to now. I have literally spit out water laughing at the stark difference in how we parent versus how we were parented.
Do kids need to be challenged over the summer? Probably
Will they perish from ignorance if they aren’t challenged? Probably not, I mean look at me….or not.
We’ve been taking it easy these first three weeks of summer. Casually going with the flow and spending our evenings under the water from the hose, taking in late night runs to Sonic for half off milkshakes after 8 and a trip to Ikea. It doesn’t take a lot to create summer memories.
I don’t subscribe to mom guilt. If my kids start school behind because I let them be kids and do a worksheet all helter skelter as the days of summer pass them by in exchange for a little outdoor fun and relaxation I’ll take the heat. Just remember we all parent differently, what works for one may not work for another and that in no way says anything about the way you or any one else parents, it simply means you do what you want with your kids.
If you are failing at summer structure don’t feel bad girl. I don’t.
How’s your summer going?
