With the recent string of hot days, I鈥檝e been reminded of what summer might be if we lived in a different province 鈥� or, say, turned the calendar back several decades.聽
After my first 鈥� and hopefully only 鈥� sunburn this year, I found myself chomping at the bit for the end of the school year 鈥� no rushing first thing in the morning to get the kids up and fed, lunches made and struggles finding homework or violins, permission slips and all the rest of it.聽
I pictured lazy days stretched out on a hot rock, sunning myself like an iguana but with better skin, and diving into the crisp, clear waters of Brohm Lake whenever it got to be too much. Put this fantasy on a loop 鈥� broken up only by one of the 15 books I have sitting untouched on my night side table, a snappy cider and delicious, nutritious snacks I honestly don鈥檛 ever get around to preparing for myself 鈥� and I鈥檝e got the perfect staycation all laid out.聽
But then I remembered that with summer and the end of school there comes the very real fact that both my children will be with me. All day. Every day. And that I kinda have to work, albeit from home. The flexible nature of this arrangement definitely has its upside, but it most certainly comes with its challenges.聽
This is why we are going to start creating the 100 Days Of Possibilities this week. In order for Mommy to maintain her sanity this summer, we need some strategies.聽
I鈥檓 envisioning a big sheet of paper delineated by multiple columns: Big trips, little adventures, sticking around 麻豆社国产and housebound.聽
Each of us will come up with at least 10 ideas for every column. Some will require more forethought and planning 鈥� and possibly money (thereby marked accordingly with one to four dollar signs), while others can be as simple as playing catch on the street or lounging in a river pool 鈥� no dollar signs required!
In an attempt to head the always-in-heavy-rotation 鈥淚鈥檓 bored鈥� off at the pass, the kids and I can consult the 100 Days Of Possibilities whenever we are at a loss of what to do. Some things will require little or no supervision due to the lottery-winning-factor of having children who are now somewhat independent at ages nine and 11.聽
Other things we鈥檝e come to love require more planning 鈥� like day trips to the Burnaby Heritage Park and Museum鈥檚 spectacular carousel, picnics at Porteau Cove, visits to the pools at Stanley Park and Kits Beach, or walk-on excursions to Bowen Island for kayak rentals.聽
Having a list that鈥檚 easy to consult can be a lifesaver.聽
Feeling a little like throwing caution to the wind? Label a few different jars with similar headings and write your ideas on folded slips of paper 鈥� that way you can add the element of surprise to your adventures. Just make sure you are good to go for whatever might be in the jar. Nothing like pulling out 鈥渂erry picking in Pemberton鈥� on the hottest day of the year when the AC isn鈥檛 working in the minivan.
And don鈥檛 forget your sun hat!
