It’s May, which means summer is almost here! I’ve been thinking a lot about how I want to spend this time. Every year, there is so much I want to do, and then all of a sudden it’s August and I haven’t done any of it! I really want my kids to experience a simple 90’s-esq summer. I know the 90’s are very trendy right now and for good reason. If you grew up in this decade, you know how amazing it was. I want a kids running barefoot, drinking water from a hose, eating outside, naps after the pool and a lot of ice cream kind of summer. Most importantly, I want to make meaningful memories with my kids.
So this year, I’m putting together a little summer “bucket list” for us. It’s a list of things we can do during the week and on weekends when Joey can join in too. Nothing over the top or expensive. Just easy, intentional activities we can do at home or close by. I want to create the kind of moments for my kids that I had as a child. I want them to one day look back at this time so fondly and say “this reminds me of my childhood summer.”
I’m keeping it realistic, low-pressure, and full of things that bring us joy. If you’re in a similar stage, I hope this gives you a few ideas and inspires you to create your own version of a quintessential childhood summer.
Here’s what’s on our list:
- Go to the public pool
- Spend the day at the beach
- Pack a picnic and visit a new playground in our town
- Look for fireflies
- Purchase and ride bikes as a family
- Have water balloon fights with all the neighbors
- Go to an MLB game or local baseball game
- Camp out in the living room – sleeping bags, pillows, maybe even a night sky projector on the ceiling!
- Play in the sprinkler
- Have friends and family over to grill
- Day in the city (Chicago is close by for us)
- Visit the local famer’s market
- Color the driveway with chalk
- Chase the ice cream truck or walk to a local ice cream shop
- Movie night at home with pizza, candy and popcorn
- Have a more flexible bedtime routine – count the sprinkler as a bath! If the kids are running around outside at night with friends, let them go to bed a little later.
- Go to the zoo
- Involve the kids with our home garden
Most of these activities can be done without ever leaving our hometown, and the bigger outings will just take a little more planning. I know things won’t go perfectly every time, and we probably won’t get to everything on this list… and that’s okay. It’s fun to make plans and have ideas, but what will matter most to me when I look back on this summer is our time together. At the end of the day, I don’t need it to be perfect. I just want my kids to remember that I chose to be present, that I wanted to spend this time with them, and that we made the most of these little, ordinary days.
XO,
Kassie
