Every summer I make a list of all the things that we HAVE to do before summer ends. Go to the zoo, make homemade ice cream, go to the planetarium, tour the local museums, visit a barnyard, etc, etc, etc. Then the kids and I try desperately to cram all the activities we listed into our short time together before school starts again. (And then feel guilty if our list isn’t completely checked off by the end of August.)
But this year I am saying no. No summer bucket list!!! No pressure to accomplish X amount of activities. No need to make sure we get in 6 picnics and 5 hikes and a tour of all the playgrounds in the area. I’m saying no. No! No! No!
Now, before I go any further let me say that I don’t think there is anything wrong with structured summers and summer bucket lists. For some family’s it is fantastic. The best. And to those family’s I say a hearty, “Carry on!” But as for me….I’m opting to do something different this year.
Maybe (and quite possibly) I am opting to take the lazy moms approach this year because here is my plan for this summer: DO NOTHING.
Really. Do nothing.
And by nothing I mean the Winnie Pooh/Christopher Robin version of nothing:
“What I like doing best is Nothing.”
“How do you do Nothing,” asked Pooh after he had wondered for a long time.
“Well, it’s when people call out at you just as you’re going off to do it, ‘What are you going to do, Christopher Robin?’ and you say, ‘Oh, Nothing,’ and then you go and do it.
It means just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
I feel the need not only for myself but for my kids as well to SLOW THINGS DOWN. Time goes by so fast. The pace of the world is so fast. The first day of school will come so fast.
Before I know it we will be rushing to school, doing homework, and running to afterschool activities. And I’m not ready. I think at my house we could all use some down time. We have had a hectic schedule with all of us being pulled in different directions and right now we need to reorganize, refresh, rest, and recharge. Which means, for me, and my kids I want some good old fashioned, old school, lazy days of summer.
No agenda, no schedule, no plans.
Just hot summer days….sprinklers in the back yard…reading on a blanket in the shade of the trampoline….and staying up late to drink slurpees on the back porch.
I know, it isn’t glamorous or “pinable” and it can’t be put on a printable. But it’s my summer dream and dang it I’m going to do everything in my power to make it come true.
I think sometimes we need to let go of our plans and hold our breath and just be still. And that time for me is right now.
I’m not sure I am strong enough to slow the world down but this summer I’m sure going to try. So wish me luck. And send me a postcard while you are all off on your expeditions! (Just because I am staying still doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear about all of your adventures!)
-liZ
Your summer sounds like the best! I’m so envious!
Yes!!! I often feel guilty for not being one of those Moms who does create and amazing summer by having a bucket list but it’s just not us. I’ve wondered if I’ve failed somewhere quite often. But I just want our summers to be simple. Easy. Relaxing. Spontaneous. We have just been through a whirlwind of a baseball season, soccer, end of year activities and ceremonies and an extremely last minute 15 hour drive to a conference. (Each way). I needed to read this cause it confirmed to me that not having a Pinterest worthy summer it ok. Filling up my Instagram feed with awesome follower worthy activities is not necessary to have a great summer! Thank you from this non-bucket list creating Mama!
I have been feeling the same this year. Enjoy your little ones for they are only little once. *sigh*
Love this! It sounds perfect.
I just hope my plan works!!!
I admit I feel a little bit guilty about not planning out an abundance of awesomeness…BUT I think that a laid back, stress free summer without pressure or commitments is just what the doctor ordered for me and my family. (And I’m glad I’m not the only one! 🙂
-liZ
They are only little once….and time is going by so quickly…..
It sounds perfect to me to….I just hope I can pull it off and we can have a quiet summer without the world creeping in and filling up our time with commitments!
-liZ
Oh I so needed to read this today! I’m 8 months pregnant with my fourth baby and I’ve been feeling a little guilty about not having 1 million “summer fun” things planned for my other kids because I just physically CAN’T. But reading this helps me see that it’s ok to just hang out, eat popsicles, and enjoy the sunshine. 🙂 Thanks for the reminder!
Very well said- love your blog and this post is terrific and so true- there are times when doing nothing is everything!
I too have the same plans! This year, I have not signed up for ANYTHING – no day camps, camps in general, or even any 1 day activities! I want the least possible of electronics (including the electric TV!) and power items, so it is an old fashioned bicycle riding, play in the creek type of summer! This has been discussed, and while they LOVE those things, they are a little nervous about what this mama means as far as NOTHING! 🙂 I think it is going to be great – the best ever!
Oh Bethany, no you can’t….and if you tried you would be miserable. I’m with you, just enjoy relaxing with your kids…and getting as much sleep as you can before the new arrival!
-liZ
Margaret…you are right….there are times when doing nothing is everything…and man does that feel so true to me right now.
-liZ
Amy! I am so with you on the absolute least amount of electronics possible…that doesn’t make my kids excited but I swear I’m going to win them over on living “unplugged” (if only for a little while 🙂 )
-liZ
I recently was thinking how I hate “bucket list” ideas. Because it puts pressure on me to get things done almost in a speedy way, because time does fly by and if I don’t slow down I may miss the simple pleasures my family gives me. My 2nd son and I are list makers, so we will have some “things to do” for the summer.
Yes!! This is our plan, too. Last summer was totally overscheduled with visits to friends’ houses, vacation, camp, more. This year, Liv actually asked that we do nothing. She turned down the opportunity to do GT camp again this year. She’s opting out of neighborhood swim team. The only thing we have on the books is a family vacation. I am looking forward to our unscheduled summer! It will be glorious.
Sounds like you are a wise mother! Enjoy your children & your summer. Love your article!!
Amen sister!
I think this is a wise thing to do. Many times I feel that children these days are way over scheduled. When do they get to have time to be kids? We have a few things planned, but not as much as last year. I am excited for the do nothing type of days to follow as well. It will be fabulous. I like the kind of days where if we want to go to the park, we can or go swimming, we can. I like the no schedule type of things. Thank you for your post.
Yes! You go girl 🙂 Enjoy your sweet summer!