Creating a Summer Calendar

Welcome to June! This is the first post in my Summer Blog Series, which I've decided to do as a way to share and document some of my summer activities and projects. I've come to accept that being a full time blogger is just something I don't have the time or discipline to do however I love writing and sharing information, so I will pop in every now and then to do just that.

This Summer Blog Series will include a variety of summer themed posts that focus on the following:

• Suggestions for entrepreneurs on keeping business going during summer months
• Parenting hacks- kids crafts, summer treats
• Summer reading and other essentials
• Summer home projects and much more!

So I hope you'll check out my posts every Friday this summer!

---

During the first week of May every year, I create a calendar of activities, events and projects for the entire summer.  Disclaimer: Not every single day is accounted for and those are the stay-in-pajamas-and-binge-watch-Netflix-all-day days.  But since I do have two children (actually one of them is officially a teenager now) I've learned to be prepared for the, "What are we doing today?" "I'm bored," "Can we go to the mall?" (And that question would actually come from my 8 year old daughter!)

I just find we maximize our time (and I reduce my headaches) when I create an actual calendar.  Here's my approach:

1. I take a sheet of notebook paper and write down all the things that HAVE to be done over the summer. Dentist appointments, immunizations, my client projects, school shopping, etc.
2. Then I write down some FREE activities.  Visiting library, making snow cones, going to the pool, family game night, etc.
3. Next I ask my kids to tell me 2-3 things they would like to do over the summer.  Visit zoo, play mini golf, go see one of the million superhero movies hitting theaters, etc.
4. I open up the calendar template in Word and start randomly plugging activities on the June, July, and August calendars.  I make sure I work around our annual summer vacation dates and I intentionally leave Monday's blank. I never pass up an opportunity to sleep in on a Monday.  I also am careful not to put more than 3 activities in one week. I don't want to overwhelm our summer and my kids need to learn to be okay without doing something every single second of the day!
5. Once the calendar is done, I print one month at a time and hang it on the refrigerator.

Even if you are a parent working outside of the home, having a calendar can still be useful. It helps you schedule time with your family and makes quality time a priority. If you need some ideas of things to do over the summer just head over to Pinterest and enter "summer activity ideas", enough ideas come up to last you until your kids have kids!  Have fun and enjoy your summer!