Productive Summer, Homeschool Mom Style

While some see summer as the months to slow down and enjoy their time, I somehow see it as a chance to catch up on all the projects I haven’t completed during the rest of the year. There is just something about summer break. While some parents are dreading it or overwhelmed with it, I find it to be the most productive time. There are a few reasons for this, the biggest being that we’re a homeschool family. Summer break gives me a much-needed opportunity to tackle projects I’ve had to put off during the school year, and our daily schedule just feels so much more relaxed and enjoyable.

During the school year, I am homeschooling my four kids and teaching at our homeschool co-op, so our days are fully booked. Between appointments, lessons for each of the kids, meals, extracurricular activities, projects, social activities, time with friends, family and pets, and daily tasks, it is easy for me to get behind on chores and laundry, so I find myself in a constant state of catch up! In the summer, we find a rhythm to our days between pool time, the kids getting together with friends, babysitting my nieces and nephew, and finding activities for them to do, so it still seems that I have more time to tackle chores, laundry, and projects around the house. Maybe it’s because the days seem longer with more sunlight or maybe it’s just a nice change of pace. Either way, I love our summer breaks together.

We went from preschool and pre-k lessons, to kids ranging in grades (kindergarten to eighth grade). As some subjects become more engaging, others grow increasingly challenging, so I’m always looking for ways to keep them interested and motivated to stay active throughout the school year. In the summer, my kids love activities and swimming in our pool, and they don’t have to be entertained every second of the day as they have gotten older. Summer used to seem like a quest I needed to conquer. I was constantly trying to find something to do, somewhere to go, something to keep the kids engaged and entertained, otherwise I had bored kids on my hands. I guess as they get older, summers have become more of a break and the school year starts getting more and more full as their interests and subject matter grows.

In the last few years, it seems like the kids pick an interest and dive in head first.

We have done bracelet making, painting, cooking, baking — something new to just try and see how we do at it. This year, we started a vegetable garden, and the kids are loving it! We also have a few strawberry plants but they aren’t doing great. Until now, I have managed to kill every plant we have gotten (R.I.P. to the hanging flower baskets and others that came before), so I call this year a success. We have successfully grown cucumbers, squash, carrots, snap beans, tomatoes, peppers, a watermelon is starting to grow, and somehow a pumpkin has found itself in our front yard next to the bushes (and no, it wasn’t planted there, but the kids are very excited to see it growing). As I get older I am craving more acreage, a bigger garden, and chickens. Until that is a possibility, I have decided to just enjoy the adventure to get there.

Have you started a garden this year? Have any tips for a newbie? Let us know in the comments!