Today we kicked off our official summer time schedule. For family council yesterday, we hammered out all the details -- with minimal bloodshed and tears -- and we are ready to get this party started! (Just kidding on the bloodshed and tears; this was actually a more collaborative effort than it usually is.) Before we got to today, however, I gave them the rest of last week off. Once school was over, they were given free rein to do whatever they wanted, so long as it didn't involve money or me having to drive them anywhere. (Luckily for me, I have a more than willing chauffeur in Grace. Hahaha.) Freebie week for the boys consisted of screen time almost around the clock for the younger two, and Ethan working all week. (I was surprised and entertained by Ethan's willingness to play Roblox with Isaac when he got home in the evenings. Hahahaha.) The girls' freebie week was spent continuing their vampiric lifestyles, staying up almost all night every night and then sleeping in for most of the day. *sigh*
But Freebie Week is Over! I, for one, always do better with a routine/schedule and I know the kids do, too. As far as first days go, I'm gonna go ahead and declare today a pleasant surprise! Hahahaha. In all honesty, though, the day really did exceed expectations. The schedule was followed far better than I thought it would be, and at the end of the day, the boys had less screen time, the girls were awake for more of the day, and everyone got their chores done. Winning!
As far as summer plans go, my main excitement is this year's summer reading challenge and our west coast road trip next month. My main project, however, is working on molding Isaac into a contributing member of society and an actual part of our family economy. Hahahahaha. With Ethan working 40 hours a week -- plus the fact that he'll be gone in the fall -- a spot has opened up in the chore chart and it now has Isaac's name on it. Or initial, as the case may be. As much as I've not wanted to baby my baby, it has happened. He is fully entrenched in his uselessness. Hahaha. (But seriously, he refuses to do anything for himself, and it's driving me nuts.) On the one hand, it's kind of hilarious to recognize how much of a last-born he is -- his self-confidence and self-regard is unmatched, he gets away with pretty much everything (he clearly senses my child-disciplining fatigue), his bedtime is whenever, and he sincerely believes that he is my favorite child. {True story: a couple of weeks ago, Alex told Isaac that he (Alex) was my favorite, and I have never seen Isaac look so traumatized and like his world was falling apart than he did when he came into my room afterwards with a quiver in his voice asking if that was true. Hahahahaha.} On the other hand, it's embarrassing to admit just how little has been expected of him up to this point. But this summer we are turning over a new leaf!! And I'm hoping that by blogging about it, it will force me to have more follow through. That sounds like a solid plan, right? Hahaha.
Meanwhile, I've been stoked to see that this summer's reading challenge has taken off with far better success than last year's! While no one ever really read anything last summer, Grace has been a ringleader this summer for drumming up interest in the challenge. It's primarily because she wants the cash money they'll receive if they read all 12 books, but I'll take it! Haha. As an added bonus, Grace being able to drive means that they've already gone to the library a couple of different times over the past month and have already gotten started on some of their reads. {For those not in the know, our "12 Weeks of Summer Reading Challenge" incentivizes the kids to read a wide variety of things, as they choose a book to read from each of the twelve different categories I come up with each year. This is accomplished more in theory than it ever has in actual practice -- eg Alex found a Captain Underpants book to fit almost every category a couple of summers ago -- but one can only hope that it will eventually result in well-read children. Hahahahaha.}
And finally, our road trip is only a month away! This summer's West Coast Swing will take us to Seattle (by plane) where we'll rent a car and drive down the coast. Initially I wanted to travel all the way from Seattle to San Diego, but I like to think I've learned a few lessons from the previous road trips we've done, and it's always best to leave us wanting more. Our end point will be Los Angeles and we'll fly home from there. In betwixt and between the start and the finish, we'll enjoy time in Seattle -- cramming in the typical touristy things one does there; Oregon -- hitting up Cannon Beach, Portland, and Eugene (the land of Ethan's birth); and California -- covering the Redwood Forests, San Francisco, Sequoia National Park, and finishing with Universal Studios Hollywood for Harry Potter world. (I consistently like to go big or go home.) Planning our trips is one of my specialties and I enjoy it almost as much as the trip itself! Hahaha. I am a little worried that wildfire season has started extra early on the west coast, but I'm hoping it won't necessitate too many changes to our plans.
With lots of other exciting things on the horizon -- Sophie is getting her braces off tomorrow, Girls Camp is happening next week, and Ethan is turning 18 at the end of the month -- I'm going to do my best to actually document life's happenings more frequently this summer. Stay tuned to see if I'll actually follow through with THAT!
1 comment:
Really like the new reading genre "raod trip research". this would really help me. I'm surprisingly getting less confident in my family vacation planning abilities (such an odd thought, but true), and if kids can get involved that would help the guess work.
I, too, never wanted to "baby" my "baby" - but alas, it happened. she's the one who's had the most cavities and dental work, bc major slacking on brushing teeth, and giving in to food at bedtime. AND similar outcomes for phonics and reading. blah blah blah.
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