Summer Schedules

A few years ago, I learned that the trick to enjoying my summer was to have a very loose, flexible daily schedule.  When I would wake up and just “see where the day took me,” it often didn’t take me anywhere.  The kids and I would stay in our jammies all day being lazy and driving each other crazy.  Don’t get me wrong.  We still have lazy days like that and they are awesome, but every day can’t be a jammie day.  And so I try to keep a general, flexible daily schedule for our family during the summer months to help us be somewhat productive and active.  

MORNINGS:

• 6:30 – Bean usually rises first and early.  He likes to have the house to himself to putter around in.  Sometimes he watches TV, sometimes plays on the computer, sometimes he plays video games.  But he usually has about an hour to himself before anyone else is up and moving.  
• 7:30 – Gracie gets up.  
• 8:00 – Chris and I get up.
• 8:30 – Chris leaves for work and breakfast for the rest of us. At our house, breakfast is self serve (except that Gracie follows whoever happens to be in the kitchen and usually has them fix her breakfast).  
• 10:00 – Chores around the house.  Laundry, straightening up, cleaning bedrooms, making beds, taking out the recycling, emptying the dishwasher, and other small household tasks.  Whenever this is finished, we usually jump in the pool or play outside for a little bit.
• Noon – Lunch

AFTERNOONS:

• 1:30 – We usually head out to run errands or do something fun.  I try to get us out of the house for a little bit every day.  I try to plan things out for the week, too.  For example, I know that tomorrow we will be having lunch with friends, Wednesday we have a movie to go see, and Thursday we will be going to the library.  Knowing what’s coming throughout the week helps me feel more motivated to be productive every day.  Today, we went to Crayola to get our arts and crafts on and play in their indoor playground for a little bit.  And then I took two dogs and two kids to the vet by myself.  I would like a gold star, please.  And a drink.

• 4:00 – I try to come home by 4:00ish on most days.  Living in a tourist city, like Orlando, traffic gets almost unbearable around rush hour.  I try to beat the rush and get home before that starts.

EVENINGS:

• 5:30 – I start dinner while the kids are playing or watching TV.
• 6:15 – Chris gets home.
• 6:30 – Dinner as a family.
• 7:15 – Dinner clean up and usually a family activity of some kind – a walk, a swim, a board game, or even just watching a hockey game or movie together.
• 8:30 – Bedtimes are pushed back to 8:30 during the summers for our family.  The kids have to be in bed by then, but they can read with their book lights for as long as they want.  Gracie usually falls asleep pretty quickly and Bean lasts until 9:30 or 10:00 before turning out his light for the night.  Once the kids are in bed, Chris and I watch TV, work on ClassMax, or I read and he works for a few hours.
• 10:30 – Chris and I try to head to bed.  Though, he sometimes stays up much later.  He’s a night owl.
• 11:00 – Lights out for Mom and Dad.

Having somewhat of a routine is really helpful to me.  It keeps me from feeling like I’m wasting my whole summer away.  Plus, I tend to get anxious and sad facey when I don’t have enough to do, but I know that’s not for everyone.

What about you?  What are your tips and tricks to surviving summer schedules?  Share below because mommas are always trying to find some good ideas!