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A Mother’s Summer Bucket List

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A Mother's Summer Bucket List

Today when I was broadening my horizons about the world around me, otherwise known as browsing Facebook, I noticed one of my online friends posted a Summertime Bucket list.

Have you ever seen one of these? They’re a list of ideas to spark a summer full of enjoyment and learning.

They can be as ambitious as a trip abroad, as fun as a day at the zoo, or as simple as a campout in the backyard. Maybe there’s a series of books you would like to read as a family. You could try every flavor of ice cream at Baskin Robbins or Ben & Jerry’s. The goals’ budget and scope are less important than getting your family to set goals for the summer and accomplish each one.

I love this idea, and each summer I vow that this will be the year that our family makes a list. I even have fantasies about laminating it and putting it on the fridge. Maybe even getting some big gold stars to put next to each activity we complete.

But I also have been thinking of a different kind of bucket list. The sort of list that only a mom could really appreciate. This is mine:

A Mother’s Summer Bucket List:

Organize and color coordinate every family member’s closet, with children not only willingly helping but serenading you with traditional folk songs.

Get the family to weed flower beds without having to raise your voice, bribe them with puppies, or threaten to cut off all use of YouTube and Instagram

Hear the kids say, “Mom,relax and read a book. We’ll put sunblock on each other. (Extra star if this happens and no sibling injuries occur.)

Have 24 hours go by without saying, “For the love of all that is good and holy please don’t (fill in the blank) again.

Never having to say, “No I don’t think it’s a good idea that you built a swimming pool in the front yard.”

Go a whole week without having to hear one of your darlings say, “I’m bored,” “I don’t want to,” or “But he likes it.”

Spend a rainy day at the movies. See the whole movie without anyone throwing up or needing 10 bathroom breaks. Extra star if we leave the theater with more popcorn in our stomachs than on the floor.

Buy and/or make everybody’s Christmas gift. When Christmas comes around, remember where you put the gifts.

Make a whole dinner from the vegetables and herbs you grew in your garden. Extra star if anyone other than you eats it.

When packing everyone’s suitcase for vacation, remember to pack underwear.

When you take the five-hour car trip to your vacation destination, ban all use of iPhones, iPads, Kindles, and other electronic devices so your children can actually spend quality time together bonding, just like you did as a kid.

After 30 minutes of said “bonding,” pull the car over and get everyone’s electronic devices from the trunk and beg them to play a game, any game. Take two Extra Strength Excedrin, and remember there was a reason your parents always looked so tired after those “great” car trips of your youth.

Each time you want to wish the summer away, remind yourself that it goes by all too fast, and one day you will miss every gray-hair-inducing minute of your kids’ childhood.

 

 

 

Comments

  5. Gina says

    Can you imagine what a kick ass summer you’d have if you hit everything on that list? I love this list, Kathy. May even have to make my own! We are That Family that makes a bucket list, and this summer, it’s totally lame. I squeaked it out in about 4 minutes, just to have something up on the fridge, and it includes things like “eat three meals a day.” We aim high over here.
    Gina recently posted…The 7 Stages Of Pants ShoppingMy Profile

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Ashley, I really wish the pool thing was a figment of my imagination!! Lol! Apparently having one in the backyard isn’t enough for one of my kids! xoxo

  10. Parri Sontag (Her Royal Thighness) says

    You had me at “Organize and color coordinate every family member’s closet, with children not only willingly helping but serenading you with traditional folk songs.” LOL. I LOVE your list. My other fave: “Mom,relax and read a book. We’ll put sunblock on each other.” Hey, a girl can dream! So Bombeck, Kathy! Great work. Thanks for making me smile today!
    Parri Sontag (Her Royal Thighness) recently posted…Life Ain’t a Big Buffet Old ChumMy Profile

  13. The Dose of Reality says

    Bwahahahahaha! I am laughing so hard I can hardly stand it! I can’t decide which one is my favorite because I recognize them ALL!! (I almost LOST IT with the “and remember where they are” because ANY time I get a Christmas gift in advance I can NEVER remember where I put it…and sometimes I don’t even remember that I got something. I almost always discover at least 2 Christmas gifts in March when I am cleaning out closets!) –Lisa
    The Dose of Reality recently posted…Goodbye, Sneezy! FRAM Fresh Breeze® Cabin Air Filter Made It Easy!My Profile

  14. Joy says

    You had me with the first line: broadening your horizon a.k.a. going on FB. LOL! Sounds too familiar, hehehehe…..

    That’s one heavenly bucket list, but you’re right. Though these kids drive us crazy, we know too how fast time flies. I was stunned to realize yesterday that the first half of the year is over. Soon, the little one will be in 2nd grade and I won’t have him with me everyday again. As weird as this may sound, I have to admit that I will miss him. Is that too cheesy? 🙁
    Joy recently posted…Introversion Doesn’t Have To Mean BoringMy Profile

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Joy I can’t believe your little guy is going to a second grader!!!!!!! That seems impossible!!! It does go by so, so fast. But while you are standing knee high in the mess it’s sometimes hard to remember how fast it goes by!! Lol! xox

  16. andrea Brovetto says

    Great Post Kathy! But your right the summer goes to fast! Enjoy every Day! Love you! Mom

  18. Louise says

    This is awesome! I love the idea of my kids sunscreening themselves while I relax. They are 4 and 2 though, so that might be messier than intended…. As for serenading with folk songs – does Barbie and the Popstar count?
    Louise recently posted…Watching the WorldMy Profile

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Louise, yea, at 2 and 4 the sunscreen option might be more trouble than it’s worth! Lol! Mine are 15, 12 and 9. And on the songs, of course they count!!! Lol! Thanks so much for coming on over! 🙂

  19. Pam McCormick says

    Hilarious and true! I have a officially started summer “kitchen hours!” Hearing “I’m hungry” and feeding a child every half hour is making me feel like a short order cook! 😉 🙂 We DO have a family summer list and it keeps us motivated to have some summer fun, because as you said these moments are going to be missed when we are older. Glad I found via Sits Girls! Have a great weekend.
    Pam McCormick recently posted…Collaboration Stew – Your Recipe for SuccessMy Profile

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Much thanks to Joseph Radigan, who besides being a great husband and father, also uses his talents to gently and ever so tactfully edit my blog. Joe is a business editor at Thomson Reuters in NY.
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