Summertime Madness

I’m getting ready to sign Greyson up for violin lessons. She’s also registered for Vacation Bible School for one week this summer, cooking camp another week, and I’m trying to figure out which date of swim lessons works for us. On top of that, we’re going on our first family vacation since Bell was born (unless I’ve managed to block it from my memory) and I’ve written the girls a daily schedule to include trips to the pool, the movie theater, and the library. I’m getting anxiety just thinking about it.

 

 

So it brings me to this...how much is too much? I know the summer should be for relaxing and having fun and just enjoying being a kid (all of which I completely agree with and appreciate). But I also know that my oldest girls need to practice telling time and counting money before second grade starts. And neither of them can swim (I’d like to personally demand that every swim teacher who has swindled me out of hefty fees every summer for the past five year be fired immediately), so they have to take swim lessons this year. And they enjoy VBS (besides, who am I to stifle their spiritual journey), and what kid wouldn’t love to take a cooking class? And the violin is a skill I think will have lasting effects on her development (and maybe help her get into a good college in the future). I should mention, Reagan is not doing violin (not for lack of begging, but I don’t think it’s a good fit for her), and she chose magic camp instead of cooking, plus she’ll continue twice weekly speech therapy. Everything else they’re doing together, as usual.

 

 

So when will they get to do regular kid things? Don’t worry, I’ve built that into the schedule. There will be time for reading, and chores, and a mandatory outside play time (sometimes I have to force them). And if we want to skip a library story time one week, we will. I’m confident that my tendency to be less than motivated to remove myself from the couch will carry over into the summer and we will actually follow through on approximately 40% of our planned activities. Cheers to slacker moms everywhere! May you know them, may you love them, may you be them. Pass the wine and cancel that playdate.