Summer is here! I finally get all three of my kids home! When I was teaching elementary school, I couldn’t wait for summer to get here. It meant that I could be with my then 2 children, all day long! It was exhilarating to think about all the fun things we would do and the fact that I didn’t have to get them to the daycare or juggle my beloved job with my new job-motherhood. Don’t get me wrong, I loved, LOVED, teaching. I miss it, everyday. In my heart I know that it’s still in my future, but for today my heart beats loudest for my three children. And to that point, the reason why I love the summer.
Now that I am a full-time mom, summer can’t get here fast enough. It’s not that I am looking forward to the fighting and the mess, but rather the memories we’ll make making the messes and the lessons we’ll learn from learning to disagree. More importantly, I am looking forward to not having a schedule and to doing what we want, when we want. Yes, there are responsibilities and places we need to be this summer. For me, it’s volunteering at my church’s VBS all next week. For my oldest daughter, it’s weekly voice lessons, my son has baseball through July, and my youngest monkey gets to play.
They are so over scheduled during the school year that they need a break, I need a break-we all need a break!! So, this first week of summer was a week to decompress. They all had friends over, sleepovers, ate lunch outside, enjoyed ice cream, played with the sprinkler, went to the pool, rode bikes, made messes that I didn’t make them clean up, watch t.v., tagged along on errands, helped out around the house, and played outside. We saw our first firefly of summer, roasted s’mores with the neighbors, and had some late nights. For the first week of summer, I think we excelled at the “no schedule” thing.
Now, heading into week 2… we need some structure. So, for the first time since I left my classroom… I am finally opening up my tubs (yes, tub”S”-as in multiple) of teaching materials and using my brain in a way that used to give me great joy… building lessons that support a curriculum. What is my curriculum of choice?? I am calling it the Summer of Wonder.
Each week, we’ll pick a topic to explore. We’ll spend some time reading, discussing, researching, analyzing, and synthesizing. Sometimes it will be to learn a new skill and other weeks will be to learn more about a specific topic. We’ll take field trips to the Brookfield Zoo, the Art Institute of Chicago, a local pottery shop, nature parks, historical sites, and more. My kids are really excited to get to decide what they are learning about. While I am excited that they are excited! This week, we’ll learn about Mt. Everest! Wish us luck!!
I am sure there will be times when I want to pull my hair out and other times when I will be in awe of their little brains. There will be days that I don’t want to end and others that can’t end soon enough. But that is the joy of this job. I love watching them grow, learn, play, make mistakes, and speak their minds.
Whatever you do this week, see the happy accidents around you. Spread your light and explore your talents. Do what gives you joy. Live an inspired life and enjoy all the good, challenging, and awe inspiring moments that make that life-AMAZING! You are amazing!!
There are no happy accidents.
~Kim
no happy accidents 