summer manifesto

I know that summer doesn't technically begin until Summer Solstice on the 21st. School hasn't even wrapped up yet around here. But summer rolled in for me when the kids quit being able to fall asleep easily at bedtime due to the light beckoning them beyond their black-out shades and when we finally had an entire week without rain.

Ice cream break!

The one thing I was most thrilled to give up when my grant funded job ended after Finnian's birth was the feeling of always running late. I had always been an incredibly punctual person until having kids. Needless to say, I am a bit bummed that due to Lala's school schedule, this is still one of the biggest stresses for me.

Her schooling means that this is the first summer since I was in school that I feel the real shift into summer as a season. A season, months long, of slowing down, stopping to smell the roses, playing, and never being late because there is no real schedule to adhere to.

Finn washing freshly picked (by him) snow peas in the only sink he can easily reach without help- the bathroom!

So this summer, I have written a Summer Manifesto (kept incredibly simple in an effort to stay true to my steps toward balance.)

• Set "ish" times. (You know..."We'll be there at 3-ish.")
  
• Linger longer.
• Always have ice cream or popsicles in the freezer.
• Spend a lot of time at the beach.
• Camp at least once monthly (even if it is in our back yard).
• Explore new places.
• Complete some home and craft projects.
• Picnic often.
• Eat as much fresh food (straight from the garden) as possible.
• Worry less about cleaning the house. (It will just get messy again in the morning, right?)
• Nap. (Wishful thinking, I suspect.)
• Play. A lot.
• Be spontaneous.
• Relax.
  

Anyone care to join me and create your own Summer Manifesto? (Stealing mine is fine, too!)

(If so, leave a comment letting me know and grab a button from my side bar!)