It’s the final countdown to summer! You can smell the campfires in the air, the laughter of neighbor kids playing until darkness sets in and relaxation right around the corner! So what are you doing to celebrate the start of summer vacation? I’m throwing my kids a party! Here’s why and what it entails.
Now I realize some of you may think I’m thinking of summer simply because I’m a teacher. But truly, that’s not it. I do love my job but cherish the time in the summer to recharge. And that’s what the kids need to. So I am throwing a “SUMMER VACATION” party to celebrate their hard work of pushing through the grind of the school year, the positive choices they made, and the learning they did. Whether summer signals a change to daycare instead of school or time at home with Mom or Dad, it is still worth celebrating!
I don’t need much of an excuse to throw a party or entertain – just ask my friends. But this one is just for my kids. They will be receiving gifts, having a treat, and have some work to do as well!
Why Gifts?
I don’t like to buy my kids stuff just for the sake of buying stuff, so these gifts serve a purpose. They will each be receiving a new beach towel as we spend a LOT of time at pools and beaches and theirs get gross by the end of the year. There will be marshmallows and chocolate to kick off s’more season! I picked up some activities I want to do with them this summer – a science kit, some books, some new games and outdoor gear.
A Treat
We’ll be staying up later than usual and having a treat! For my kids that will be ice cream on the patio. You could get the kids in their pajamas and make an ice cream run to the local ice cream place too! Really, any special, easy treat to kick-off the summer!
The Kids Have Some Work Too!
The kids will have some work to do at this summer vacation party, too. They will be making a summer bucket list with us! This is the first summer that my kids are old enough to really understand summer vacation so we will be having them join in the fun of planning our summer. I do NOT like to overbook our summer. But there is something to be said for the fun of having a summer bucket list and then being able to check things off! These items don’t have to be huge vacations or expensive. Just fun things that we want to do in the three months we have to pack in the quality family time without the racing out the door, gone all day, craziness the school year brings!
So, I hope I inspired you to celebrate your kids’ and your hard work for making it through another year and kick summer off right this year!
