My Summer Bucket List

I love love love summer.  I am always a little flabbergasted when I talk to moms who dread summer.  Usually it’s because they feel overwhelmed at the prospect of so much free time.  They feel it’s a bit of a chore to keep their kids busy.

But that’s why I like summer.  I cast aside all efforts to remain busy.  I have no longing whatsoever for the days of waking to an alarm clock, rushing through a frantic morning routine involving three different drop offs, planning my day around drop off and pick up times, driving everyone to and fro after school, pushing them to finish their homework while trying to make dinner and then whisking them off to bed only to start all over again the next day.

If you are a mom intimidated by free time, I invite you to make your own summer bucket list.  Try to remember what you loved about summer as a child and put those things high on your list.  That’s when it becomes fun for you too.  Reliving (or recreating) your childhood beside your own children is one of the great rewards of motherhood so enjoy it!

Summer is full of opportunity to do those things you put off during the school year because there is just never enough time.  It is tempting to sign your kids up for a million activities, but I personally like to provide a good amount of unstructured, creative free time where we can just enjoy being together as a family without rushing around.

So I’m throwing out my alarm clock and trading in the hurried morning routine for a slower lifestyle.  Summertime is just about me and my kids taking it easy, choosing what we want to do and forgetting the rest.  I get a little dreamy and over ambitious with my summer plans, but it never hurts to have a list of activities to choose from.  There are only 70 days left, so I’d better get started on my “to do” list!

Here’s my summer bucket list:

• Have a library/park/ice cream day each week.
• Visit an art museum.
• Plant a garden.
• Make homemade ice cream.
• Slip-n-slide, sidewalk chalk, jump rope and bubbles.
• Grill at least once a week.
• Help the kids de-junk their bedrooms.
• Do a lemonade and used book stand.
• Teach my almost 12-year-old how to do laundry.
• Visit a natural history museum.
• Eat tons of watermelon, berries, corn on the cob and popsicles.
• Go biking at the beach.
• Have a game and movie day in our PJs.
• De-junk the craft cupboard.
• Go to the zoo & aquarium.
• Play night games outside with flashlights.
• Visit a pick your own fruit farm.
• Go to the beach & pool. (Lots!)
• Initiate an end of summer block party.
• Teach my kids to make their own lunch and clean it up.
• Tie dye.
• Frequent the Farmer’s Market.
• Visit an observatory.
• Get a trampoline.
• Attend outdoor concerts.
• Paint the little girls’ bedroom.
• Find a drive in movie theater.
• Go beach camping.
• Catalog the home videos from the last 2 years.
• Go to a county fair.
• Be “screen free” from 9-5 every day.
• Eat outside.

Visit my blog to see how I’m doing on my list.  www.allysonreynolds.blogspot.com

My friend Saren has a great post called “Do-it-Yourself Summer Camp” about putting a little structure together to make your bucket list happen.

QUESTION: What fun would you like to have with your kids this summer?

CHALLENGE: Make your own bucket list!

About Allyson Reynolds

A Midwest girl, Allyson met a California boy in Japan, and after getting married and living in all three places together, they have spent the better part of the last decade in the Mountain West with their four children, ages 11-21. After many years of writing and speaking about motherhood for the Power of Moms organization, Allyson now produces The Sisterhood Podcast with long time Power of Moms friend, Tiffany Sowby. Along with creating episodes that focus on empowering and entertaining women, they hold monthly “Service & Sweets” events up and down the Wasatch front where they gather women to serve at a different service organization every month followed by a visit to a local treat shop. (For more information and to get involved, find them on
Instagram.

In a parallel universe, Allyson travels the world as a freelance writer and National Geographic photographer. In reality, she tries to squeeze in as many of her favorite things as possible (the great outdoors, photography, biking, cooking, living like a tourist) while trying to keep up with her busy family. Though woefully neglected, you can occasionally catch up with her on her blog, A Day in the Life and on the local daytime TV show, Studio 5