"what are your plans for the summer?"

I saw a meme a few weeks back. Or maybe it was just a screenshot of a Twitter post. It said something to the effect of “stop asking me about my summer plans; I liked it better when I was being applauded just for staying home.”

I laughed out loud and could totally relate. My kids finished up school last week, and in the weeks preceding, I got asked innumerable times about our summer plans.

I get that it’s a conversation starter. It’s like when people talk about the weather. But I also bristle a little bit at the idea that summers should be filled with camps and pool days and hikes and lemonade stands. Don’t get me wrong, I adore all those things (ok, except lemonade stands!). But I also love days at home. Days where we stay in our pajamas until noon and dig up bugs in the backyard. We turn on the sprinklers for a few minutes and we read lots of library books. We save the gas money and pool money.

Our family has plenty of summer plans: we are going camping, biking, hosting friends and family, and meeting up with people around the city and beyond. But if the time home during COVID taught us any lessons; if we truly did find some “silver linings,” maybe this summer can look different than the summer of 2019 for many of us. Maybe we don’t need to go back to “normal?”

Don’t feel bad if you’ve asked me about my summer plans. I’ve most likely asked you about yours!

I am honest with my answer: I tell people I’m looking forward to not doing much. I am grateful for that privilege. I know not everyone has it. But I think more people have it than realize they do. I also have some of my own pains. I occasionally find myself envious of those with more child care than we have. We've all go our challenges. Some more significant than others; I get that.

But I’m getting off track! My point is this: if it doesn’t come naturally to you to “just stay home,” try intentionally planning nothing for a few days this summer. Or this fall. Do it on purpose. Make it your plan. See how it feels.

I’ll be over here, too, doing the same. And maybe occasionally we can meet at the pool to discuss how it went ;)

Happy summer, friends!