Happy Wednesday, friends! It’s time for this month’s LET’S LOOK!
If you don’t know what this is, once a month, Erika and I do a little link up where we “look” at different aspects of our lives (and then if you blog, you share and link up too!). We have been doing this little linky party for years now, and it’s always one of my favorite posts each month because most of the topics are YOUR suggestions!
So far in 2024, here’s what we’ve “looked at”…
In January, we looked at HOW WE CLEAN OUR CLOSETS.
In February, we looked at LITTLE THINGS WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
In March, we looked at WHAT’S IN OUR GROCERY CARTS.
In April, we looked at OUR QUIET TIME/PRAYER TIME.
In May, we looked at OUR SUMMER CLOSET STAPLES.
And today, we’re LOOKING AT OUR SUMMER SCHEDULES.
You guys, I love, love, love me a schedule, but geez, it’s hard to nail one down over the summer.
I feel like every morning I wake up, hope for the best and hold on for dear life.
It’s 3:51 PM as I type this on Monday afternoon and here is what my day has looked like thus far:
4:30: Alarm went off. I did my quiet time, drank coffee and a little work.
6:00 I met my friend Lauren for a 3.5 mile walk.
7:00 I showered and got ready.
7:30 I woke up the little girls to get them ready for Vacation Bible School
8:30 We left for VBS
9:10 I returned home and worked.
10:10 Smith and I left to volunteer for his Young Men’s Service League. The two of us delivered food for Meals on Wheels.
12:30 Smith and I returned home just as Andrew was returning with the littles from VBS. I assisted as they all three made their lunches and then I waited for Kensington to walk in the door from working out at her high school.
12:50 Went back to work.
1:20 Kensington and I went have lunch because…she needed some mama time. We went to Salata and both had salads and chatted.
2:00 Back at my desk to work (with coffee!).
2:50 I dropped off both little girls at speech therapy.
3:05 Back at my desk where I am working now and plan on staying here until 6:00 tonight. At 6:00-ish, I will get up and go make dinner (we are having tacos!).
I’m *hoping* tomorrow feels less chaotic, and I have larger chunks of time to work instead of all the getting up and getting down stuff. I 100% look at my day and only have myself to blame for the chaos. I signed up the littles for VBS. I signed us up for Meals on Wheels. I told Kensington I would take her to lunch. I did this to myself. I love it all, but it has been a wee bit bananas today.
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again…it always stresses me out to transition from my school year schedule to my summer schedule…and it always takes me several weeks to get into my groove. Right this very minute, I do not feel quite in my groove yet…I’m getting there, but it’s always an adjustment for me.
I do have a post where I share my own 21 KEYS TO WORKING FROM HOME {SUMMER EDITION} should you need some tips/help/motivation.
I do try really hard to get into some sort of routine that doesn’t make me feel stressed and/or frazzled…but some days are better than others.
Here are the things though that without a doubt, I do every day during the summer:
1: MY QUIET TIME
2: WORKOUT
3: WORK
4: SPEND TIME OUTSIDE
5: DO SOMETHING WITH MY KIDDOS
6: WALK MY DOGS
7: DRINK COFFFEE
8: READ
No matter where I am or what is on tap for the day, those eight things are a must for me 🙂 .
I would LOVE to know about your summer schedule! Are you super organized or holding on for dear life? Do you have an amazing tip or suggestion?!
When my kiddos were this age…
…my summer schedule looked very different. These were hard days for different reasons (little kids are exhausting!), but geez, I loved every minute. I didn’t work full time, so we had more time to play, but I just remember always thinking the goal was to make sure they did something fun around lunch/early afternoon so that they would take long naps in the afternoon. I remember when the majority of my day was built around a long nap. You guys, that feels like yesterday!
Don’t forget, coming up this year…
…next month, we’ll share PODCASTS AND SHOWS WE BINGE!
Don’t forget, if you blogged along with us today, please link up below.
Have the best day, friends! xx
Elspeth says
My schedule stays pretty consistent but on days when things get crazy, i always make sure i get my non-negotiables in, after that, whatever gets done is a bonus! How are you splitting your time between Texas and Nantucket?
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Mix and Match Mama says
There’s no exact split this year, we’re just working around schedules and doing the best we can for this particular season.
Tara G. says
This has always been the plumb line for me: Jesus said that the most important part of life is relationship- with Him first, and with others next. At the end of the day, it sounds like you accomplished that. 🩷 If you didn’t have the margin to prioritize the Lord and people, it would be worth considering if you’re too busy.
Beth Knecht says
With a toddler I schedule everything around naptime because I really want those hours to work! We play outside and run in the morning and maybe go to the pool and then nap after lunch and play some more!
Right now we are visiting my grandma twice daily at the nursing home as she is in her final stages. It makes our schedule a bit wonky and some days my son doesn’t nap (like yesterday) but it’s more important for her to know we are there than stick to our regular schedule so tightly!
How old were your kids when they stopped napping?
Mix and Match Mama says
Kindergarten. Our world revolved around naptime until kindergarten. My girls were ready to transition out of naps at that time, but Smith would still take a nap today.
Chrys says
I really admire your ability to fly back and forth between both homes this summer. I think I would be pulling my hair and stressing out the entire time…not to mention feeling exhausted. What are you doing with your pups as you guys fly back and forth? I love that no matter where you are in the world, you always have your routine and prioritize your spiritual and physical health.
Mix and Match Mama says
I really love the travel days as it’s a great time for me to lean in and work. I think they’re “what you make of them”, and I’ve made me a nice little routine that involves coffee, good lunch spots and working on board. Andrew and I said when we bought our house on Nantucket that we would not complain about the “commute”. We complain about many things (ha), but we would not make this one of them as it would just rob us of the joy. Instead, we have figured out ways to make those travel times (even the delays) blessings. The pups have been with the family all summer. The three older dogs have been in McKinney with Kensington (or me when I was here) and then Charlie, since he’s a puppy) went back and forth at the beginning of the summer. All four will head to Nantucket though. They’re all very excited 😉 .
Sheaffer says
Oh my goodness the pic of K and S really took me back! I would pay a lot of money to just have one of those pool mornings and lunches back with our littles!
Kay says
Love this post! We are all in the same boat with just trying to survive. This summer looks a bit different for me as our oldest (of three) is off to COLLEGE in NYC next Fall! GULP! So my priority is to just take in any and every extra second with him. Sitting at the kitchen island watching cat videos together? YUP. Grabbing lunch together? YUP. I have a ton of work and two other kids and a husband on business travel this week (not to mention three dogs) but prioritizing my oldest is making it a bit easier to structure this summer.
Other than that exception, I’m with you that summer is ‘trial by fire” and every day is just, “let’s deal!” Hope you have a nice day!
Addy Robinson says
Do your kiddos listen to podcasts? May be nice for car rides, etc.!
My brother in law in Northern Ireland is a youth pastor at a 250 year old Christian church (how cool is that) and has a podcast on Spotify or Apple podcasts called “God’s Big Story” taking kids through the Bible. It is really cute! Would be a good age for your littles, or littlest at least. 🙂
https://woodendonkey.org/the-podcast/
Mix and Match Mama says
Wow! I’m going to look that up. My kids listen in the car with me sometimes. What a great thing your BIL is doing!
Tess says
My son is turning 12. He is not a “little.” He is younger than his older siblings. But calling him a little would diminish him.
Mix and Match Mama says
He sounds super picky about that, so I love that you respect his wishes. Ashby has not expressed that and she’s very vocal. It’s a term of endearment over here, and we don’t seem to be super sensitive about things shown out of love and endearment.
Tess says
No he isn’t super picky or super sensitive. It’s important to recognize that as children grow older we acknowledge they are no longer babies. I used to refer to him as my baby when he was much younger but stopped using that term of endearment as he grew older. He is a super confident and self assured kiddo and not continually reminding him that he’s the youngest or littlest in the family has contributed to that. Everyone is different. Every family is different I get that. I did not care for the implication that my child is super sensitive because we don’t refer to him as a little.
Mix and Match Mama says
Well I certainly didn’t care for the implication that I could possibly be “diminishing” my child. I think it’s okay to do you and I’ll do me and we just be happy with who we are and encourage each other. There is certainly nothing wrong with just being uplifting 🙂 .
BF says
Call your kid whatever you want!!!! But, don’t get after Shay for calling her kids what SHE wants!!! My gosh, why does everyone have to get mad when people don’t do things the way THEY would do them!!!! Geeze.
Becky says
Just wait young mothers until your kids are adults. I still call my 46 and 39 year old sons “my baby” and they know I’m not gonna stop. It hasn’t harmed either of them because they know their mama still adores the heck out of them!
Sarah says
Tess- my son is the same! He is my baby- but I know how he feels, he is headed into middle school and very much wants to be at the same level in the family as his HS age siblings… he would feel “less than” if I referred to him that way.. Just chiming in to say I don’t think that is being picky- I think some kids just feel differently about those things. One of those good for her not for me situations I guess!
Lori Bittenbender says
I love that you do Young Men’s Service League! I’m praying about doing it with my son. Could you please do a post about it and how you manage the required meetings?
Mix and Match Mama says
I have a meeting today, and I feel like my head might spin off my body, ha! I need to complete it at least a year before I a post because right now, I would say that when Smith and I serve together, IT’S AWESOME, but there are just SO MANY admin meetings that feel superfluous to me. I might have a different opinion next year, but so far (one month in) and that’s my genuine opinion.
Lori Bittenbender says
Yes, that’s what has me worried. The meeting time commitments. I look forward to your insight when you have more time invested.
Claire says
Love this! How far in advance have you been booking your flights this summer? Always love hearing how you do things.
Mix and Match Mama says
They weren’t all booked at one time, but I would say probably April (we had to know schedules first). I don’t typically book my flights super far in advance.
Amy J says
I am surviving and living in a day planner to keep it all straight. I have 2 in competitive sports plus out full time jobs which involve travel and vacations. I was trying to go over our week with my husband Monday. He said can we just take this day by day. Haha
sandi says
No real summer schedule here other than letting me know on Sundays what nights we will have family dinner. The oldest is working at Target and shift work changes week to week, two are working at YMCA camps as counselors and one is in Vietnam until the beginning of August. We were all home this past monday evening and had a dominoes game going after dinner. Everyone has this saturday off, so we will walk to the beach, set up some games and have lunch and dinner together. Usually we can all attend church together, but sometimes a work shift will pop up. My husband and I are just trying to get all we can from this season.
Megan Mar says
Thanks for this post, Shay! Loving your content. How do you handle if the kids change their minds with plans they “agreed to” in advance? My family travels quite a bit and this has come up as my kiddos have gotten older.
Mix and Match Mama says
I’m sure that will happen as they get older, but right now, it’s not an issue. We’re always trying to make everything a team effort over here which means sometimes, the team is compromising for you and other times, you’re doing it for them…it’s working now, but I know things only get trickier as they get older.
Josie says
Completely winging it on days like today with my 2 teens. Dropped my son off at 8:30 for soccer practice, picked him up at 10:30. Dropped daughter off at 9 to babysit, picked her up at noon. Got a haircut at 1. Son went to a friends house and pool this afternoon. Daughter “had” to go to Target this afternoon. Ended up at the Costco food court for dinner after sons lacrosse practice tonight. So miss the good old days of little kids in the summer. I’m just a glorified Uber driver right now 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
…without the paycheck 😉 . #ifeelyou
Becky says
Just wait young mothers until your kids are adults. I still call my 46 and 39 year old sons “my baby” and they know I’m not gonna stop. It hasn’t harmed either of them because they know their mama still adores the heck out of them!