By Dana Donovan
You know it’s happened to you. You are driving down the road with your kids in the backseat when one of them says, “Can we (insert random activity) this summer?” At that moment you look at them in the rearview mirror, smile sweetly, and say, “Sure, that sounds fun. We’ll have to plan it.”
Fast forward to two months later and you are again in the car, probably buying school supplies, when your child exclaims, “We never (insert same random activity)! You promised!” Admit it, it’s happened.
Make this summer the exception by having your child create a “summer bucket list.” My kids’ lists include friends they would like to spend time with over the summer, including some friends from elementary school who, although they follow on Instagram, they don’t see on a regular basis. The list also includes those above-mentioned random activities like tie-dying t-shirts, playing laser tag or having a shaving cream fight.
Let’s face it: there will be some activities on your child’s list that may not be realistic expectations. But having the list will help you manage those expectations. I keep my kids’ lists in my daytimer so I am reminded on a daily basis to schedule those play dates and to make time for their memory-making activities.
It’s also a great idea for you to create your own bucket list for your child’s summer. Whether it’s reading a certain number of books, learning to play an instrument or volunteering a certain amount of hours, creating these lists will help ensure both you and your kids have a successful summer and will decrease your likelihood of hearing, “But you promised!”
