Summer in the Middle of Unknowns

But, I looked in his eyes, my one who has struggled so much with quarantine, and I said, “I have no idea.” 

It wasn’t a lie. I really have no idea what the summer is going to look like for any of us. It won’t look normal, that is all I know. 

With three kids with summer birthdays, plus July 4th, canceled vacation plans and activities, and who knows what else, there are a lot of questions swirling in the air regarding what summer will look like. How can we plan summer in the middle of so many unknowns? 

Although there’s a lot we don’t know, this summer we can get flexible, and we can do it fast.

Our flexibility to roll with the punches for the lack of a better phrase is going to define most of 2020 for us. It may not be what we had planned, but there are many ways that we can make the most of summer in the middle of unknowns. 

Here are 6 suggestions to help us all make it a summer to remember – for good reasons:

1. 1. Plan something to look forward to every week. It doesn’t mean travel or big things, but they can be small things. Camp out in the backyard, bonfires, at home movie nights, pancakes on Saturday, creating your own at-home Olympics. There are many ways to give your family something to look forward to. One small thing to be excited about boosts the entire family.
   2. Continue to learn. While we homeschool around here and follow a year-round schedule, I know 99% of you do not. Encourage your kids to continue to learn by reading daily, watching educational shows, or picking something to learn about and research together as a family. Something simple, but it goes a long way and mixes up each day.
   3. Order take out once a week (if you can). If take out is an option for your family, getting something from your favorite restaurant or ice cream place will be a great treat for your family during the summer. If it’s not, simply let your children choose a meal each week. Rotate each child giving them a turn to choose.
   4. Think of things you can do for others. It is a great time to think of how you can help other families. Drop a note of encouragement off or treats on their porch, or grab groceries for a family in need. Send cards to distant family and friends. Do something that lets others know that you are thinking about them and love them. 
   5. Make things special. Like I mentioned, I have three kids with summer birthdays. I am already thinking of ways that we can make it special even if we are still at a distance. Think outside the box. Use Pinterest and involve the kids.
   6. Use this as a teaching opportunity. We can learn a great lesson in the middle of all of this. We can learn what is truly valuable and important – the simple value of being together. Hopefully, they will look back at this summer and not remember a chaotic time in our world but a sweet time of simple memories made together.

Plans will come and go, they will evolve, and the months go on, and life begins to look a little bit more normal. But for now, we will sit in the unknowns and make the best of it that we can! 

Wife Step: How can you make things special for your kids this summer?

Michelle is a writer and speaker on a mission to equip women to thrive in their walk with Jesus by getting into God’s Word every day. She is a wife to Jeremy – a Minister of Music, and mom to three wild and wonderful kids. She loves Christmas music all year, collecting shells, crazy socks, and drinking lots of coffee. You can find her at www.displayinggrace.com, on Instagram @displayinggrace, or on Facebook @Displaygrace