Yes, you read that correctly. I’m busy sending payments to every day camp I can find, completing health forms, and coordinating playdates and vacations. I want my kids enrolled in as many summer activities as possible. Because if I don’t, come the first day of school next year, I might just find myself in a disheveled state—matted hair, wild eyebrows, and still in the same pajamas I wore back on Memorial Day.
I thrive on structure. I need a plan for our days; the idea of unstructured time makes me uneasy. While spontaneity can be fun, I can’t depend on it to navigate these summer months. Without a compelling reason to leave the house—preferably something I’ve invested in, so I feel obligated to follow through—we tend to stay cooped up. At my core, I’m a homebody, and it’s all too easy for me to become a hermit when staying home is an option.
And let’s be honest, this isn’t just for my kids. They adore being at home, surrounded by their toys, favorite snacks, and of course, their beloved Netflix. They’d happily lounge in pajamas all day long, and honestly, I think they prefer it.
But the schedule is primarily for my sanity. While I enjoy those comforts, I need to interact with other adults. A day filled with activities for the kids allows me the opportunity to catch up with friends or even just exchange pleasantries with the cashier at the grocery store.
By signing my kids up for various activities in our vicinity, I ensure I have the chance to socialize and remind myself that I’m still a functioning adult. It even encourages me to maintain a semblance of personal care; brushing my teeth becomes a priority before my husband returns home. A routine is essential for me to accomplish even the simplest tasks, because when left to my own devices, I’m no better at managing time than my four-year-old.
It’s akin to how you might have organized your college life—making arrangements to prevent your future self from making regrettable choices after a night of partying. You’d write down important contact numbers on your arm to ensure you had a safety net if things went awry.
This is essentially what I’m doing for summer. I plan ahead to shield myself from three months of lounging in activewear without actually exercising. I’m preventing myself from retreating to my room while my kids wreak havoc in the kitchen, and I’m steering clear of that first trip to the library for the summer reading program, which usually ends with me accruing library fines large enough for them to consider naming a section after me.
As fall approaches and I dash through stores gathering the seemingly endless supplies on my back-to-school list—not just “pencil and paper”—it can feel like a never-ending cycle. But at least it’s not the conclusion of a three-month binge-watching marathon on the couch with my kids while we snack on Cheetos, blissfully unaware of the passing time outside. Though, I must admit, scheduling in a few days of that wouldn’t be the worst idea either.
In conclusion, summer planning brings structure to my family’s life, allowing me the balance I need to keep my sanity intact. For more insights on family planning and fertility resources, check out this informative piece on fertility boosters for men at Make a Mom.
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Keyphrase: Summer planning for kids
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