So I’ve been thinking about summer guidelines and keeping the girls active and productive yet happy and relaxed. It is a bit harder for me as I work from home and can’t always provide a huge amount of structure to the day when they are out of school, as I’m busy. But, I like for them to have time at home during the summer so I like to think of it as a great way for them to learn to become a little more self-sufficient around the house. And make some of their own fun!
So when I saw this blog (narrowbackslacker.com) posted on Facebook, I knew I had found a really great solution for us! I know all families are different, so I will provide you with a PDF to give this a try if it feels like a fit for you, and for some it might not. I love the term “low strung parenting” and where she said she “missed the helicopter.” I will admit I helicoptered a lot more when they were little. But, I have found it gets harder (and is met with a lot more resistance) to helicopter school age kids.
The brilliance in it is like she said: people have momentum. I am the same way – if I get up and start working right away, I have a great, productive day. If the kids start off the day with a long walk with the dog, they’ll come back make lemonade and head to the backyard and later play fairies in the basement. If they hop onto the computer for Animal Jam, they’ll be there when it is time for lunch.
So, I’ve taken the ideas from narrowbackslacker.com and tweaked them a bit for our family. Feel free to use our version, or make your own. And good luck! I hope it is a great summer!