Now that school’s out, I’ve seen lots of “summer survival” posts all over the internet, but “survival” sounds sort of … desperate … to me.

I don’t want to think of the summer as a season we have to survive just because we’re on a school break.  I want it to be a time for us to thrive.  A season to shine and grow together and look back on fondly with sweet memories.  A time that we can relax and recharge, yet not feel bored and aimless all day long.

As the mama, it’s my job to lead my children to be successful and thrive.  We may be accustomed to spending all of our days together as a homeschool family, but the lack of school schedule presents its challenges.  So to make sure we’re successful and thrive through the summer, we’re sticking to some goals with a plan.

1. We’re keeping a loose daily schedule.  That remains pretty open though.  Awake by 10am (which is definitely not an issue for most of my children) and keeping normal eating routines.  Otherwise, my kids tend to ask to eat all day long.

2. We’re sticking to our regular chores.  I think this simply helps us maintain some level of order in the house.  We always re-assign chores with the new school year, so for now we’re sticking to our current assignments.

3. We’re limiting electronics.  In our house, that means 1.5 hours for the youngest, 2 hours for the next oldest, and 3 hours for the oldest two.  I already feel like that’s probably too much, but electronics are totally a sanity saver for me when I’m working.

4. We’re reading individually for at least one hour every day.  I’ve been so excited about this the most, I think.  My youngest is not an independent reader yet, but he looks through picture books during reading time (or an older sibling kindly reads to him).  I absolutely love watching the children dig into books.  There is nothing like hearing all about the plot of their latest read and watching them anticipate the next scene.  Talk about making my homeschool mom heart swell!

5. We’re spending at least one hour outside every day.  This is an absolute must for me, save rainy days obviously.  That can mean anything, just as long as we’re outside.  Having a pool at home makes this easier, but oftentimes I find some of the kids in the woods together playing and imagining.  Again, makes my heart swell big.

6. We’re spending one hour engaging in creativity or playing games together.   This one is pretty open.  I told the children that they could create art, make plans for something, play with each other, play board games, work on puzzles, etc … the sky is the limit … as long as it doesn’t involve electronics.

7. We’re focusing on healthy snacks.  For the most part, this means sticking to organic prepared and whole foods, or homemade goodies, with some protein component.  A carbohydrate-only snack has everyone coming back to me in an hour for more food when the blood sugar tanks.  Adding protein ensures that the snacks fill them up and keep their energy going.  We’re also staying mostly dye-free and preservative-free because of the serious health concerns I have about additives.  But of course, we’re making time for fun occasional treats too, especially during our time at the beach.  We keep in mind that they’re treats though – fun extras meant to be enjoyed occasionally, not every day.  We also enjoy making snowballs at home with THESE organic and dye-free syrups.  It’s so worth it to find the safer alternatives – our people are worth the effort!

8. We’re planning dates as a family.  Some of our dates are our summer “usuals,” but we’re trying to make time for new activities, too.  I’m hoping to give geocaching a try!

9. We’re planning dates with friends.  Especially as the kids get older, we’re all about hanging with our friends.  This takes planning, but it’s so worth it to see the kids engaged with their people and having fun.

10. We’re trying to remember to be kind, be calm, show compassion, and have FUN with each other!  This seems easy, but can actually be easier said than done on some days.  With a lack of school schedule, we can all end up getting a little impatient and short-tempered.  But constant reminding that we’re family and we stick together goes a long way.  And diffusing and sharing all the calming oils certainly helps, too.

What are YOUR secrets to thriving during the summer?