Summertime {and the livin’ is easy}

This time of year my family hums and sometimes belts out the George Gershwin tune, “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy…”

EASY! Is it?

This is the time of year that moms all over the world either successfully survive the summer or the summer successfully survives them!

This summer, this mama, was DETERMINED to survive; and to survive I needed to prepare. We wouldn’t grocery shop without a list, we wouldn’t bake a cake without preparing the ingredients, we wouldn’t throw a party without preparing for the event…

I (we) MUST be determined and prepared; if we fail to plan then we plan to fail!

In attempt not to fail, I decided to plan this way:

1. Determined the structure of our home for the summer. Set the tone for our environment. *remember mama’s, we set the tone*

2. Discussed with the children the things they would like to participate in or accomplish over the summer. *everyone has ideas*

3. Researched our area for coupons and FREEBIES! *Plan family visits, friend days, craft days, exploring days.. *anything FUN & FREE*

4. Purchased a calendar specifically for summer events/schedules. *they are already in a routine, don’t mess it up*

5. As a family, we filled in the days on our calendar. *allow for rainy days, sleepy days, spontaneous days*

6. HAVE FUN! *memories aren’t made without fun*

Not all families are the same, not all mama’s stay at home, not all children crave as much structure; but ALL families thrive off of determination and preparation, and even a little FUN!

Make this summer work for YOUR families good. Start simple and your schedule will end profoundly. All because you are determined to be prepared!

“Whatever your hand finds to do , do it with all your might…” (Ecclesiastes 9:10, NIV)