In one week, school will be out for the summer. I must say, I’m equally looking forward to this and dreading it all at once. On the one hand, I can’t wait to have a reprieve from the tight schedule that has ruled my life the last nine months. To know that I don’t have to be anywhere when we wake up in the morning is sweet bliss.

On the other hand my kids, who are six, four and two, still wake up at the crack of dawn every day – even on Saturdays. *gasp*

It’s their way of torturing me for making them eat vegetables and brush their teeth every day.

So what am I going to do with them all day long? We can’t stay home all the time or my son may not make it to the first grade. I refuse to take the easy way out and let them watch TV all day (although I may allow cartoons on the mornings that they are up before 7:00 – no sense in being a martyr for motherhood, right?)

In an effort to not totally lose my mind in the long summer days to come, I’ve laid out a loose schedule that will still offer us a routine while also building in plenty of free time to relax, play and enjoy the dog days of summer.

First, because my kids are up so early every day, and because I don’t want them turning in to couch potatoes, we will likely have a bit of learning time in the early morning hours.  This will include working on reading with the six year old and the alphabet with the four year old.  I also plan to use this morning time to work on their foreign language skills as I’ve found it’s much better to get the school work out of the way early, rather than waiting until bed time when everyone’s ready to relax.

Second, we will be making trips to the library a couple of times per week to check out new books.  This is something that, sadly, I don’t do enough with my kids and I would like to incorporate it into our summer schedule while we’ve got free time.  I’d like to establish a reading goal for my son with rewards for books read along the way.  I think a trip to Six Flags at the end of the summer if he reaches the ultimate goal will be in order.

Third, we will be taking field trips to various St. Louis attractions.  Living in West County, I tend to get stuck in a bit of a bubble.  Two of my three children have never seen the Arch.  None of us (myself included) have ever been to the Missouri Botanical Gardens.  These are two places on my list to visit.  If you have any other suggestions for fun St. Louis attractions, please let me know.  I’m more than open to suggestions.  In fact, I’m begging for suggestions.

Finally, we will spend ample time swimming at the local pool, an activity that my children, thankfully, love.  We will run through the sprinklers countless times, no doubt, make homemade popsicles, climb trees and enjoy the gift of free time with one another and friends.

I will undoubtably have moments where I’m ready to pull my hair out.  There’s a good chance that I will take them to the gym on more than one occasion and drop them off in childcare, then hole myself up in a quiet corner with a book for a few moments of solitude.  But more than anything, I am truly looking forward to having uninterrupted time with my kids, because the truth is…I actually like being with them.  They’re a lot of fun!

What are your plans for the summer?  Do you have any creative activities planned while the kids are at home?  If so, please feel free to share!