by
Rhett Smith
Striking a balance between being super busy and doing
nothing over the summer can often be difficult for families. Hopefully in the
process of communicating expectations for the family a good rhythm can unfold
between busyness and rest.
Lots of kids, as well as parents, come to the end of the
school year completely exhausted. Sometimes a period is needed for families to
rest and rejuvenate before launching fully into busy summer mode. But the
reality of family life today is often that both parents are working, and
therefore kids need to move quickly from school into summer activities.
Depending on your family, you may
have characteristics that help you go about finding the right rhythm. But here
are a few suggestions that I have found to be helpful:
Create
“White Space” – As you look at your summer
calendar, make sure there are days on the calendar where there is nothing
planned. There should be “white space” on those days. In our busy world, it’s
important to have days where kids and parents don’t have
something to do. These days allow families to be spontaneous and creative
in the absence of planned activity. I recommending purchasing a large
white board calendar if you don’t have one, or drawing a calendar on a white
board. Capture