Summertime Goals

As of today, my older son has exactly three weeks of school left. And while both of us are looking forward to an extended break from the projects and the homework and the deadlines and the early mornings, I know we’ll feel just a tiny bit lost once summer actually arrives.

The structure of the school year has its advantages, one of them being to provide some focus and direction to every week. If we’re not careful, summer can turn into one vast, lazy, zoned-out blob of time, and when we come out of our daze next September, we’ll wonder where the time went and why we have nothing to show for it.

Fear not: I plan to have plenty of lazy, zoned-out days this summer, with nothing to show for them.

But I have also set some goals for the kids this summer and asked my older son to set some of his own. Nothing too heavy, nothing too stressful. Just a little bit of motivation and direction.

Here’s a glimpse at what I have planned:

My summer goal for my 2-year-old:

This one’s easy. He’s almost three, and my goal is to get him potty-trained. I tried convincing various relatives to potty train him for me, but I’ve gotten no takers (despite begging and monetary bribes). I guess the task will fall to me.

I’m not particularly looking forward to the process, but I know the freedom (and the cost savings!) will be worth it in the end.

My 2-year-old’s summer goal for himself:

To avoid potty training at all costs.

Okay, in truth, I didn’t ask him, but I have a feeling this is his goal anyway, since he’s told me very clearly, “Mommy, I a big boy, but I NOT go on the potty.”

Sigh. I’ve got my work cut out for me.

My summer goals for my 10-year-old:

• I’m in the process of putting together a handful of books I’d like him to read this summer (he generally loves reading, so this won’t be too taxing for him).

• I’d like to teach him to make several meals on his own, and then have him prepare them for the family. Simple meals – maybe grilled cheese, hot dog crescent roll-ups, etc. I’m thinking once a week would be a good break for me schedule for him.

• I plan to have him do his own laundry this summer, or at least most of it. It’s a good life skill, and besides – it’ll give me more time to be lazy and zoned out.

My 10-year-old’s summer goals for himself:

• He’s into all things computer and all things drawing, so his primary goal this summer is to learn how to use PowerPoint or Photoshop Elements, or possibly both. I have a feeling the hardest part of this goal will be convincing the 2-year-old that it’s not his turn to play on PBSKids.org.

• One of my son’s favorite activities is riding his bike – especially when he gets to ride with his dad. The two of them are planning weekly trail rides this summer, with the ultimate goal being a “super-long-distance” ride later in the summer. I’ll happily be their dropper-offer and picker-upper.

I’ve also set some personal goals for myself this summer including things like reading with the kids, taking them to the zoo more than once, improving my photography skills, and dealing with our storage room, which is currently overrun with boxes and piles and “stuff” in general.

None of our goals are too huge or overwhelming. (Okay, well maybe the potty-training one is. Just a little bit.) But they’ll give us something to do when the summer stretches endlessly before us, when we’re feeling bored or restless. And once September arrives, I have a feeling we’ll be able to look back on a somewhat-productive, but mostly just plain fun summer.

Do you and/or your kids have any goals for this summer? If not, are there one or two you think you might want to tackle?

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Catch more of Katrina's writing and ramblings at her personal blog, Callapidder Days.

Comments

[Jennifer, Snapshot]

Our goals are similar. I love the lazy days, but like you -- I don't have to plan for them. They just happen.

Amanda, my 10 year old, is actually into her Flip video, so I know she'll be doing that, and perfecting her editing skills. She cooked a bit last summer, and I will let her (or make her) do it again. I think you'd be surprised that your son could do much more -- like brown some hamburger and make tacos or spaghetti.

Oh I don't envy you the potty training. My stubborn little guy was several months past 3 years old before I felt like we had any real progress.

[Melanie (Modern Mami)]

I hear you on the potty training. My girl is 3 and also refuses to go in the potty. She'll sit on the potty, but won't "go". sigh....

[bananas]

I love this approach to summer planning. Unfortunately as a type-A overachiever I usually hit summer hard with many SECRET goals such as:
- teach CJ to read and write at a 5th grade level. (he's 5)
- completely reorganize the house and implement cleaning system such that it will always be spotless (I don't clean)
- lose 50 pounds, look like a model, but maintain humble and witty persona (trust me, this just won't happen)
- learn to play the guitar and join a band (I lack discipline)
etc.
Then I end the summer having accomplished nothing and feeling generally glum about my spectacular failure.

Maybe this year I'll follow your excellent example and WRITE DOWN some achievable goals. Weirder things have happened. :)

[Nick Friedman]

Katrina:
I love the idea of having your 10-year-old set his own goals. That's a great way to help him feel responsible for his own actions--even if he doesn't achieve every goal he sets out for himself.

And I really like the idea of teaching him to make some of his own meals. Just imagine: there'll come a day when you arrive home and he has everything on the table ready for you. Even if it's a mac 'n' cheese extravaganza, the effort to teach him will have been worth it.

[Lynnie]

I'll be right there with you on the potty training front! I'm trying to potty train my 3 year old....for the third time! Surely third time's a charm, right? : )

[cathymccaughan]

Can my 3-y-o come visit for a potty training refresher?

[Katrina @ Callapidder Days]

You know, now that I think about it, our township should forget about Pottery Camp and Square-Dancing Camp for the older kids. How about a Potty Training Camp for 2- and 3-year-olds? We could drop off our kids at 8:00, go out for coffee, and come back to little kids who actually want to use the potty. That's a summer camp I could definitely get behind.

[onlymom]

inspired, this idea of setting achievable goals that serve both you and the kids! on the cooking front, my 10-year-old gets the biggest kick out of making pizza and once he gets the crust down (which isn't a bit hard -- kneading and yeast are actually fun) the topping possibilities are endless. and since my kid is a reluctant reader, i too, have started collecting a pile of books that we'll read together, if necessary. any recommendations of books not necessarily on the kid list, but not to be missed?

[Nick Friedman]

Katrina:

"Potty Training Camp ... a summer camp I could definitely get behind."

Makes a nice brochure tag line, don't you think?