Maybe not by the calendar, but certainly by the recent change in temperature - and forecast for less precipitation. I'm hoping for the good weather to stay for a bit so we can dry out!
As of yesterday at 11:30AM, all of my kids are finished with this school year. Classes ended a couple of weeks ago. Exams have been written - by all four! All that's left are for marks to come in, closing ceremonies and prom. Still plenty left, but everyone is spent and appear ready for the lazy-hazy-dog-days-of-summer to arrive - the sooner the better!
I find I get a bit squirrely this time of year with the next ten weeks lacking structure. Through it all I attempt to maintain our long-standing family 24-hour rule* and as much as I do enjoy the kids coming and going - parties, day trips, day camps, overnight adventures, concerts and demands for ice cream and barbeques - it can be a bit overwhelming for a non-spontateous, order driven personality like mine. By the time September comes around I'm beyond ready for the return of routine.
In the past I've scheduled day trips and holidays to keep some structure in our calendar - and the sports schedules help. I don't think that is going to work as well this year with the older kids having plans to work at the summer day camps - Caden will be attending. And then they'll be taking trips of their own - without me. They're growing up! I had to come up with something else to keep me sane.
Months ago, I posted my time management tasks. Wow. What a great way to put my life in perspective and on task. Since that worked so well, I thought maybe, in addition to my anticipation of summer, I needed to put together a time management "map" for my summer. It will give me a familiar framework in which to have the structure I crave, but be loosey-goosey enough to accomodate the changing plans of my kids and their friends - and my friends, too.
Ah, see that bench? My plan is to sit on it and watch the swans float by at some point in the next ten weeks. I know we'll get to Stratford at some point, but not sure how we're going to fit it in. But fit it in we will!
*24 Hour Rule: ever since Claire started middle school (2007) and showed signs of an abundance of "free will", I imposed a rule that states that I require at least 24-hours notice of activities so that I can check the calendar. As much as I try to accomodate the social lives of my kids, if there is a conflict I do all I can to juggle, but sometimes it just can't be done. This rule has been one of the single most consistent and effective family management tools I've used.
