Do you start to feel all sorts of overwhelm? A tinge of summer planning anxiety? Like, you want to make the most out of it, but don't know how?

I felt it too. The early years of summer with kids were great, but I was overwhelmed. I hit up the same parks and zoos, and soon felt like our days were blending together. There was so much I wanted to do, but I couldn't figure out how to execute it all.

It was like a day would approach and we would fly by the seat of our pants. I was either looking forward to the day being over, or I felt like we didn't get all that we could out of it.

My mind needed structure and my heart needed a plan. I sat down at my computer and wrote down a list of every possible activity in our area. Splash pads, parks, movie theaters, pools, outdoor concerts, public library events, breakfast outings, evening activities. My fingers couldn't keep up! I looked up "Most Popular Boba Tea" to "Award-Winning Museums." I wanted to know every possible option for summer, so that I didn't leave anything out.

After my "Summer Bucket List" was finished and categorized, I needed an execution strategy. It was one thing to have it written down on paper, but it was an entirely different thing to make it all happen.

...WHEN SUMMER ROLLS AROUND AND THE KIDS ARE FINALLY HOME...

This is when the idea of a "Weekly Roundup" came about. I needed a schedule that was organized that would hold me accountable and allow for execution. As such, every Sunday our family sat down together, reviewed, and wrote down (or typed out) the activities for the week ahead. I not only wrote down upcoming weekly events, but I also wove in our daily plan with "Summer Bucket List" items.

I printed both the "Summer Bucket List" and "Weekly Roundup" and taped it to the refrigerator for everyone to see. We left room to write things in and stayed flexible in case plans changed.

So, what happened then? I noticed our weeks began to flow. There was no more anxiety about the possibility of summer fun, and more room for executing the vision we held in our head.

My boys not only anticipated the weeks and days ahead, but they enjoyed the fullness of the summer days that included variety, depth, and richness.

I no longer had to question if I was getting the most out of summer with my kids because I had written proof that we were doing all that we could to maximize the days. The "Summer Bucket List" and "Weekly Roundup" became a game changer. My hope is that it will bless your family just as much as it has blessed ours. Enjoy!