Inspired by Stephany’s June goals, I have been getting in the headspace to be intentional about how we spend our time this summer. Taking Coop to his last dive practice before national qualifiers, I listened to the annual design your summer episode of Happier, hoping for some inspiration, which I of course found.
Here is something I DO NOT WANT: I do not want to be a gross, haggy, sweaty mess in a mom bun every day. Instead, I want to get dressed, do my hair, put on makeup, treat myself LIKE A HUMAN BEING. I get caught up in doing all the chores first, but then everything is a mess with all of us home, and everyone is on a slightly different schedule, and there ends up being so AFTER the chores because all of the sudden it is lunch time and then I am putting laundry away and we are swimming and bam! Bedtime. So, this is my summer of WEARING GROWN UP CLOTHES LIKE A GROWN UP.
(Thanks to Maya, I went to LOFT and bought 2 pretty, grown up summer dresses that are no harder to put on than jorts and old shirts from college or my too-tight lulu shorts and tank tops with discoloration around the armpits).
I also want to steal directly from the podcast and do a summer of re-reading some favorites. Specifically, I am going to reread Maggie Now, Joy in the Morning, and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (the last one with NGS and co). I also want to revisit my two favorite books in the world: Straight Man by Richard Russo and Your Oasis on Flame Lake by Lorna Landvik. I might also take a detour through Fannie Flagg’s Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man.
Finally, I think we will theme our days again while Dorothy and Cooper are still young enough to humor me. We will do Minecraft Monday, the only day of the week where they can have personal screens like iPads and laptops or play the specific XBox games that make everyone fight to the death. Next up is Sweet Treat Tuesday where we’ll peruse local bakeries and ice cream parlors (stolen from Kelsey). Water Wednesday will see us doing SOMETHING with water— our pool all day, a trip to a public pool we never visit, some kind of low-rent sprinkler in the yard, lakes, splash pads, etc. We’ll have New Park Thursday (and to be honest we will probably also go to the library on either Tuesday or Thursday, depending how we settle into Dorothy’s summer dance schedule), and we’ll finish the week with FUN FUN FRIDAY where the kids draw crowd sourced activities from the Bag of Destiny.
Bring it, Summer 2023. WE ARE READY FOR YOU.
Sarah, this sounds AMAZING. Your summer enthusiasm is so contagious, I'm feeling a bit jealous since I have stowed my kiddo away at camp most of the summer. I think it would be very hard for me, personally, to put this plan into action but we could just move to your neck of the woods and tag along, lol.
ReplyDeleteI also love your plan to dress like a grownup every day, and I sincerely want to aim for that. I spent the first few days of May buying all the dresses (several from Loft -- they have such fun, cute sun dresses!) and now I just need to WEAR them.
4 days in and 4 adult outfits! I am way too proud of myself for just getting dressed.
DeleteThis sounds amazing! I really need to plan this summer (I'm working on it and it's going moderately well) because I did NOT plan last year and I was a wilted, exhausted, panicky woman by September. It was horrible. So this year I need a bit less spontaneity and a bit more routine.
ReplyDeleteI need a color-block schedule to figure everything out, but it;s working I think
DeleteI put on nice clothes and makeup every single day (well, "nice" depending on your view, I'm not wearing like a ball gown or anything) because it makes an enormous difference in my day. I don't feel like myself unless I have made an effort about my appearance.
ReplyDeleteYour summer sounds very fun!!
It makes SUCH a difference, but I always let it slide. NOT THIS SUMMER!
Deletethis sounds fun! If you're on a Betty Smith kick, have you read Tomorrow Will Be Better, which was re-released in 2020? I got it for my mom, who loved A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and she really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! I haven't reads this one
DeleteI have a friend who used to bemoan how his summers would go by and he wouldn't do anything that his kids could write a "what we did this summer" essay about, so he started instituting Adventure Tuesdays with his kids and nieces and nephews. Every Tuesday they'd go to the zoo, the beach, to pick blueberries, the sculpture garden, etc. He kept this for years, although I feel like there was a switch to Adventure Wednesday for a year or two. His kids are mostly grown now, but I still seem him occasionally slide into adventure mode to make sure summer is fun!
ReplyDeletelove this
DeleteI love ALL of this. I have a dear, dear friend who has visited every summer with her kids since all our kids were little, and we used to go to a different museum every time, and at some point we just decided to go to a different ice cream or gelato place every day in addition to or instead of museums. I am so excited to have my daughter home, although our summer plans will be more like Ted Lasso Tuesdays and Wine Moms Wednesdays. Your kids are going to have a blast. And I'm looking forward to rereading ATGIB with you and everyone.
ReplyDeleteThe return of theme days! Excellent! Your kids are going to have so much fun!
ReplyDeleteso far, not terrible, that's the best I have
DeleteThat is an excellent plan! I love the themed days. It's nice to have a theme to focus on so it's easier to choose what you will do. Summer is pretty similar to the rest of the year for us since our kids are still in daycare/summer programs, but I am trying to make sure we do some fun things on the weekend to take advantage of the gorgeous weather!
ReplyDeletethe midwest shines right now-- it's true
DeleteCan so relate to dressing like an adult in the summer. During the academic year I dress nicely because, well, I have to go to work. This season , I bought two beautiful dresses from Marine Layer (thanks, SHU) and been enjoying them albeit next week teaching stops till September.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun summer you have planned :))
YES! My fall wardrobe game is strong. Spring is a little less strong because the weather is horrid. Summer clothes? I AM WORKING ON IT.
DeleteI need to get on board the dress like an adult train for my weekdays. Unless I have a meeting (and depending on what KIND of meeting I have, lol), I am usually in really comfy clothes. It's nice, but I think maybe I should institute dressing like an adult Mondays-Wednesdays because I always feel better when I do!
ReplyDeleteYour summer plans sound amazing! Just think about what a wonderful summer full of memories your kids are going to experience. <3
I might need to modify my goal to 3 days a week too with the caveat that I at least look grown up from the neck up.
DeleteThis sounds SO FUN! Lucky kids! I'm also joining the Engie book club- I can't wait to re-read and discuss TGIB!
ReplyDeleteI confess, I rarely dress like an adult. Leggings, yoga pants, and joggers, year round. Tops rotate depending on weather. Lather, rinse, repeat. ;) I love the idea of tasty Tuesday! I need to restart my Tour de Custard...
ReplyDelete