My Summer Plans {for me}

With the boy closing out his last official year of preschool this week, my mind is spiraling fast towards summer. How is it already here? 

I know that not everyone happily counts down the days until school is out, but this momma is a big fan of summer break.  I love having all of the kids home.  I love our laid back schedule, and I really love the extra sleep.  I also love a plan.

After giving it some thought, I’ve decided that my plan for this summer comes in 3 parts.
My plan for me. (This post)
My plan for them.
My plan for us. 

…………………………………

Walking into the hot days ahead, this one thing I know: I don’t want to blow through our days, merely surviving.  I want to be intentional about this little block of time that we have together.  
So, without further ado … Here’s my plan for me:

#1:  Stay Hydrated. 

{If you’re looking for some ideas on ways to get in the Word, no matter how much time you have, here are some ideas that have worked for me.} 

#2:  Be present. 

This summer I will choose to be present with my kids.  Face to face.  Hands free.  That means my phone will not be a constant appendage, and my computer will be closed.  Not all day long, but for a lot of the day – on purpose.  My kids are growing up fast, and I’m afraid at times that I’m missing it by being distracted by a little glowing screen.

One thing that helps me in this area is taking Facebook off my phone.  More than the others, Facebook can easily become mindless, unnecessary distraction for me. Removing the app from my phone helps loosen the tight grip it’s had on me.  My Facebook time will only happen when I sit down at the computer. Not when I’m in a line at Target, sitting at a red light or while I’m at the pool with the kids.  Not this summer.

#3:  Say Yes.

Summer is a great time to create more opportunities for YES.  The truth is that sometimes I hear NO come out of my mouth before I’ve even really thought it through.  No, I’m not in the mood. No, it’s too late. No, that will make a mess. No, just because.

But since we’re no longer driven by a schedule, this summer I will be intentional about looking for ways to YES. I will take more deep breathes and decide YES is worth it. For them and for me.

#4:  Lighten up. 

Here is a fact: when the kids are home, my house is constantly undone.  Some messes are fine, but constant chaos drives me nuts.  This summer I will choose to lighten up about the messes.  And, because I plan to say “YES” to the kids more often, I will choose to lighten up even when what they’re asking is destined for disaster making.  Our summer pace will be slow, and my attitude will be light … by the grace of God!

#5:  Invest.

At first glance, summer appears less flexible for investing in others. After all, I no longer have kid-less hours in the middle of the day for coffee dates or lunch with friends.  But, summer invites a smaller, more life-on-life kind of investment.  This summer I will choose to invest more in those I do life with (which sadly are the ones that sometimes get overlooked). My kids and their friends who come in every few minutes for a drink of water. My neighbors who sit curbside with me while the kids run in the dark. Soccer moms. Friends by the pool. These are my people, and these are the ones in whom I will invest.

So, that’s the plan.
5 simple things that if implemented have the potential to change my everything this summer.

Interested in our other plans?
My plan for them: The Stay Smart Chart
And – my plan for us: Summer of Love, Part 2.
Stay tuned!