How I’m Soaking Up Summer as a Work-from-Home Mama.

The perfect summer? Is there such a thing? 

Here’s what I’ve come to learn about myself as an overachieving perfectionist, I need to go in with a plan. An intentional design and list for each season. Otherwise I get caught in trying to do it all, fomo, and questioning whether I am “performing” at life well enough. 

Last year was the first time I sat down and made a summer plan. My oldest daughter started preschool last Fall and I realized that our days were numbered of being able to pack up and go and do whenever and however we pleased. Not to mention the “you only have 18 summers with your kids” message that feels like a lot of mounting pressure to do this thing “right” or else. 

How can we look back on our days and know we spent time well? Amidst the bound-to-happen pivots, plans that go array, and the inevitable unexpected happenings… how can we know we are doing our best to soak up the joys of life? 

THAT is what I hope to accomplish with “the summer plan” – something I think I am going to start incorporating into every new season from here on out! 

How to prep, plan and execute the perfect summer (as a working mom with two littles!) 

First things first, I want to prep for the season. I really liked this episode from the Lazy Genius podcast where Kendra Adachi talks about looking around, looking back, and looking ahead. So that’s how I started my Summer plan this year.

Looking around: 

I see a lot of chaos! We downsized into a much smaller home three months ago. This house is much more “us” than our last house, but moving always requires some adjustment. Too much furniture, too big of furniture, not enough furniture. Not to mention we are working from home as well – so when I look around I see a big need to unbox, sell, buy, and organize! 

I also see a brand new tiny person here with us! We are adjusting to life as a family of four, figuring out newborn sleep and nursing, and a very active, loud, and energetic three year old. 

Looking back:

I love the process of looking back! I do this every month when I do my monthly review and prep. I also do this every year using My Blueprint Year journal to reflect on the year that’s been and plan for the year ahead. I always have my phone so I can check my camera roll. It’s amazing how quickly a month passes but looking at my camera reminds me of all the things that we did that month! 

Pulling up pictures and blog recaps from last year I remember so many fun summer memories and make note of the things I definitely want to do again! 

• Pelican snoballs on the 1st day of summer
• Freedom Fest 
• Ice Cream from Cruze Farm
• 4th of july Parade
• Family beach trip!
• Picking strawberries at a local farm 
• Dollywood (of course!)
• Fun Fest
• Baseball game

Looking ahead:

Miss Madelyn absolutely loved her first year of preschool! We are going to be so sad to say goodbye to her precious teachers. I am excited for a summer of fun with her and soaking up newborn snuggles, but also see a house that feels chaotic that needs my time and attention and a business with a lot of projects in the air right now. 

I want to savor the summer while also making progress on personal and business goals. We are excited to have a nanny for the summer who will be with us two full days each week. I think this will give us focused work time so on our “off days” we can soak up summer memories.

One thing I also want to do this summer is “field trip fridays”. This takes the pressure off to plan something fun for every single day! Not to mention, between swim lessons in June and gymnastics every week— Madelyn is tired and wants to spend time playing in her room, reading books, watching movies, and singing! It’s so easy to overload the summer and make everyone feel tired and overwhelmed. Field Trip Fridays feels like something we can all look forward to! 

How do I want to spend the summer?

Once we prep for the summer by looking around, looking back, and looking ahead, it’s time to plan for the summer! Projects I want to accomplish and fun memories we want to make! When I think about this summer I don’t want it to be rushed and though it may sound lame, I want to soak up time at home with the girls. Lots of time reading books, picking wildflowers, going on walks, rocking on the porch, listening to the birds, journaling. A slow summer to savor this season of life sounds perfect and exactly what I want after a busy Spring! 

Summer Projects:

I have three summer projects I want to tackle.

• Finish Unpacking

Since we just moved in March, celebrated a 3-year old two days later, and welcomed baby Rosie just weeks after that… we are still digging through boxes trying to find things. And THAT is no fun! I’d love to get all the boxes atleast opened and put in a place this summer! 

• Organize the kitchen, pantry, and laundry room! 

Our kitchen, pantry, and laundry room are the hub of our home. While I’d love to get the entire house setup, I know that is unrealistic. If I can get the kitchen, pantry and laundry room functional, I know that will eliminate a lot of stress on my part. 

• Last but not least, I would like to get the girls’ rooms setup! 

I love making a house a home– and that requires layers! I want to get personality up in the girls’ rooms! Wallpaper, curtains, pictures, the right furniture! Especially for Rosie who is right now sleeping in our room with a tiny dresser for her things. I’d like to have a place she can roll around on the floor and play, unpack her baby clothes and toys. 

First Day of Summer Kickoff

I love marking a new season with fun “first day of ______ (insert season)” traditions. I’m a big fan of traditions! Traditions help establish memories and can help mark time. Example: There’s a reason eating cake, blowing out candles, balloons, and opening presents makes it feel more like a birthday.

Traditions: 

Taste : We always try to sneak away to get Pelican Snoballs on the first day of summer!

Smell : new summer candle! 

Read: new Magnolia journal summer edition

See : I love for my home decor to feel more colorful in the summer!

Hear : pick a Summer Playlist on spotify 

Our 2024 Summer Activities & Memories Bucket List: 

Summer Favorites:

• Pelican Snoballs
• Dollywood 
• Fun Fest Hot Air Balloons
• Splash Pad 
• Pool days
• Sprinkler
• Bubbles
• Cookout & Bonfire
• Neighborhood summer block party 
• Lots of Watermelon
• Popsicles 
• Get on the water at least once
• Family beach trip
• Pick berries at a local farm
• Dollywood

You might also like: 2023 Skidmore Family Summer Bucket List

Other things I’d like to do this year:

• Float the river
• Safety City
• Zoo trip 
• Go bowling
• Plant an herb / vegetable garden
• Eat from a food truck 
• Drive in / movies on the lawn

I am sad we won’t be doing some of our favorite summer activities this year, but newborn life comes with its own perks! A baseball game, fireworks, Fourth of July parade, and family beach trip will likely not be happening this year! It’s hot! ☀️I’m grateful to go in knowing that summer will look a bit different this year, and I’m totally ok with that! 

Taking the time to ask myself “what do I want for this summer?”, particularly in this season of life with a newborn, calms my “want to do life perfectly” heart so I can actually enjoy all the things we DO instead of focusing on things we don’t do. 

You might also like: Summer Reading List 

Budget Friendly Summer Activities: 

Looking for some other ideas (that aren’t bank busters) for your own summer bucket list?!

• Make homemade popsicles
• Go hiking
• Be a tourist in your own town 
• Camp in your backyard 
• Run through the Sprinkler 
• Firefly Hatching kit 

Summer Plan Resources: 

Mark the start of a new season and plan well! This helps me live with intention and soak in the fullness of life even amidst work deadlines and juggling all the things! Here are some resources I have loved that helped me create my own Summer Plan.

• Currently on my nightstand: Summer Reading List
• How to win at summer as a work from home parent
• The Lazy Genius Podcast Summer Plan Series
• As well as this episode on the Lazy genius podcast
• Nancy Ray Podcast on the Summer Plan 
• The Essential Calendar Company. I bought the summer calendar along with this washi tape and these post-it notes to visually plan our summer and keep our bucket list top of mind. 

There you have it, my summer plan!! 

Summer can come with a lot of expectations and if I’m not careful I can find myself comparing my summer to that of others. Especially in this sweet season of newborn life, there will be a lot of summer things we will not be doing this year. Instead of wondering “did I do summer well?!”, I love creating our own intentions for the season ahead. 

To the best summer yet! 

Shanna

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