Yes, you heard that correctly. I’m busy sending payments to various day camps, completing health forms, and organizing playdates and trips. I want my kids involved in as many activities as possible throughout their summer break. If I don’t, I can already envision the chaos of the first day of school: disheveled hair, wild eyebrows, and still wearing the same pajamas from Memorial Day weekend.
I thrive on structure. I need a game plan in place before anything happens. While I appreciate a little spontaneity, I can’t rely on it to carry us through the summer months. Without a solid reason to step outside each morning — preferably one that comes with a financial commitment — we rarely leave our home. Deep down, I’m a homebody, and it’s far too easy for me to retreat into hermit mode when staying home feels more comfortable.
And let’s be honest, this isn’t just about my kids. They love the comforts of home — their toys, favorite snacks, and beloved Netflix all reside within these four walls. They have no qualms about lounging in pajamas all day; in fact, they probably prefer it that way.
The truth is, the schedule is more for my benefit. Although I enjoy those home comforts too, I crave adult interaction. Whether it’s catching up with friends or simply chatting with the cashier at the grocery store, I need that social connection. Signing my kids up for various activities in our area gives me the chance to engage with other adults while we cheer each other on for surviving another day. It even encourages me to handle basic hygiene tasks before my partner arrives home in the evening. Otherwise, I might find myself managing time as well as my four-year-old.
It’s akin to how you navigated college life — responsible you made arrangements to safeguard reckless you. You’d jot down your responsible friend’s number on your arm, just in case you needed a lifeline after a night of questionable decisions. You know what I mean, right?
In the same way, I, as Spring Me, make all the arrangements to ensure Summer Me doesn’t end up stuck at home in activewear all summer, pretending it’s not happening while my kids wreak havoc in the kitchen. I’m the one who prevents Summer Me from heading to the library on the first day of break to sign the kids up for the summer reading program but never returning, racking up fines that might as well name the self-help section after me.
As fall approaches and I’m hurrying through stores to gather the absurdly long back-to-school list — which, for some reason, isn’t just “pencil and paper” — it may feel like a never-ending cycle. But at least it’s not the end of three months spent binge-watching Netflix on the couch with my kids, munching on Cheetos with the curtains drawn, completely unaware of the outside world.
Though, let’s be real, that does sound appealing. I’ll be sure to pencil in a few days like that on the calendar too.
In summary, planning a structured summer for my kids serves a dual purpose: it keeps them engaged and provides me with the necessary adult interaction. Balancing commitments ensures I don’t lose myself in the chaos of home life.