We have made it to the middle of summer break. As moms we tend to have a lot of feelings regarding having the kids home. Some of us are wondering what in the world we are going to do with them for weeks on end. Keeping them and ourselves from going stir crazy can feel challenging. Others are excited with long lists of things to be doing through the heat and the long days. Many are even accustomed to having them home for homeschool, but are now facing large numbers of kids in all the usually quiet places, like the library. No matter which mother you are, summer does give us all a golden opportunity to spend extra time with the kids.
One of the great things to do with this opportunity is to get some one-on-one time in. Dads can get in on it and together you can really give the kids some great memories. A Daddy/Daughter date, like what my hubby and four year old did last weekend is a great option. They spent the afternoon out and about after for ice-cream and their favorite store. While they were out my little guy and I ran a couple errands and picked up a snack to go with his favorite movie at home. We all got to wind down a little, and really connect. Some other great ideas are to go out to some of the many area outdoor concerts, or the evening movie in the park series. Even stopping by the splash pad and joining in the fun with your kids is a great way to connect.
Another great thing to do over the summer is to hit home lessons like manners. During the year it is easy to get busy and let up on things like please and thank you. In my house we often become lax on our table manners as we leave the dining table for a more relaxed seat in the living room. Taking time out of our days to do something nice for a neighbor is a great way to stress the meaning of community. Bring the kids to the local library during story time and practice sitting and actively listening to the story. After, stop and help tidy the puzzles that often get left out. There are several fun museums in the area between Belton and Waco that offer a chance for kids to respect a quiet atmosphere, but still step into a kid zone for lots of fun. Reminding kids to take an extra moment to hold the door for others is also important.
Lastly, Summer is a great time to share your passions and hobbies with the kids. My husband loves having a project bicycle to work on. He and the kids will sit down and work on putting new chains on or changing out pedals. My 4 year old will sit down with me and work on building junk journals and stamping paper. It feels great to answer her questions and share what I have fun doing. Even if our hobbies aren’t what they love doing, hopefully it will show them the value of indulging yourself in what brings you joy. Other fun hobbies to include the kids with are playing music, reading, and working out in the garden.
