Speeding Into Summer

Summer sped at me. Like, seriously, after Spring Break, when my students are doing state testing, suddenly, there's summer, staring at me.

Waiting.

Summer was waiting for me to arrive and frolic with my kids.

Of course, there are the, at a minimum, three days I won't get with my kids, because I am simultaneously a mom and a teacher building a career. That career needs tending, even when I most want to say, "No."

Summer beckons. A few weekends ago, we went to the park five times. We went to the park by the river. We went to the dog park (twice). We went hiking. We went and had a picnic in a smaller neighborhood park. We got no fewer then 112 mosquito bites.  And it was glorious (minus the bites, of course).

And now, a just a few weeks later, it's actually summer.

I'm excited, and I'm panicking. 

Do you know that I still have a tab open on my iPad from last summer? It was a tab full of promise. A recipe for lemon blueberry pudding pops that I never made. We have gone through two and a half seasons and almost my daughter's entire life so far....and I haven't made the pudding pops yet. Dude.

I haven't finished my plans from last summer. How am I going to live up to my expectations for this summer?

The first step is to not have any expectations (with some exceptions).

Here are my expectations for Summer 2016.

• Make the pudding pops. It's going to happen. 
• Spend time with my kids
• Find the friends I never get to see during the school year, and see them 
• Be outside
• Go on adventures
• Stay home
• Build forts
• Read books
• Take naps
• Eat good food

That's it. 

What are your plans for summer? Are you going to take over the world? Or simply launch yourself into your children's world?