By: Megan Flatt, Mommy Strategist and Wellness Expert
Today I’m welcoming back one of my favorite online friends, Megan Flatt. She’s going to shift gears a bit today and encourage us to not forget to pamper someone super important this summer, ourselves! She’s got some GREAT ideas for making this summer memorable not only for our kids and families, but for us too. xo. Beryl
A friend recently asked on Facebook for recommendations to add to her summer bucket list. Everyone, myself included, chimed in with awesome ideas for family and kid-friendly activities. In fact, just a few weeks ago, Beryl hosted Shawn from Awesomely Awake with her amazing ideas on how to have a more playful summer with your kids (I know I’ll be trying quite a few of those!)
But it got me thinking about my own bucket list…not the one with Chuck E Cheese and The Jelly Belly Factory (yeah, that is near me and we are going this summer!), but the one that was all about me and filling MY bucket.
I stopped what I was doing, open the note section of my phone to create my own summer wish list.
What is on YOUR Summer Bucket List?
I’d like to challenge you to create a “Mom Only” summer bucket list. What do YOU want to do for yourself this summer?
Make An Actual List
The breakneck pace of summer fun often results in us moms collapsing into the couch at night and watching a rerun of Storage Wars or flipping through a holiday 2011 issue of Oprah Magazine if we have any free time. Take a few minutes right now and brainstorm a list of things you’d rather do with your free time. Here are a few ideas.
Check your local “On Demand” schedule for a movie you probably missed in the theaters. Even if you watch in 20-minute increments over the whole summer, you’ll be so glad you watched Life of Pi or Silver Linings Playbook over Real Housewives any day.
How many of the Modern Library’s Top 100 books have you read? Instead of surfing Facebook during swim lessons, download the kindle app on your smart phone and catch up on some of the classics. Or if that list is a little too 11th grade English for you, try something lighter from this list of Best Beach Reads of 2013.
Pre-plan Mom Only Time
When I’m out with my kids, I try to prepare them for our day ahead of time, especially if they have to endure something like running errands. I tell my kids; “We have 2 stops to make first, and then we are going to the park.” This gives them something to look forward to and a light at the end of the tunnel.
Moms need to do this too! When you already have a moms’ night out on your calendar, it gives you some down time to look forward to, even if it is a few weeks away.
Do you have trouble coordinating schedules with your mom friends? My friends and I have been using doodle.com and it works amazingly well. You start by setting up a “poll” with days and times that work for you (I pick about 9 different options.) Then you send the link to your group of friends and they simply check the boxes of the dates that also work for them. You can easily see which night works best for the most of you and so much easier than keeping track of a million emails back and forth!
Buy Yourself an Adventure
At my son’s preschool fundraiser a few month’s ago, I bid on gift certificate for 2 stand up paddleboard lessons, something I have been dying to try. Not only did I support my son’s school, but I now have a prepaid gift certificate…with an expiration date on it…to do something just for me!
Keep an eye on Groupon for discounts on massages or even dancing or flying lessons. Or check out the site www.biddingforgood.com which hosts hundreds of online charity auctions, you can find your next adventure and support a good cause at the same time!
Need More Time? Get Creative With Childcare
A good friend of mine has a standing playdate with 3 other moms and kids every Wednesday morning in the summer. All of the kids go every week, but only 2 of the moms do…the 3rd mom has a morning to herself and the other moms get to hang out with each other while the kids play. Great idea.
I recently enlisted a young neighbor girl to come over for 2 hours a week. She just completed the Red Cross babysitting course and isn’t quite ready to babysit alone, but she is awesome at playing with my kids in the other room while I get some computer work done and she charges ONE QUARTER what our regular sitter charges.
Take some time right now and create your own Mom’s Only Bucket List. Need some help? Try answering these questions
- A book I would like to read:
- A movie I would like to see:
- A restaurant I would like to try:
- My favorite coffee shop is:
- A girlfriend I want to see:
- A new hike/yoga class/zumba class I want to attend:
- A cocktail I’ll make at home:
- A craft I’d like to finish:
- A museum exhibit in town:
- A spa treatment I’ll be booking:
Go To Summer Camp! (Virtually, that is)
If you want more help having some mom-centered fun this summer, go to summer camp! Join Beryl, myself and 6 other mamas for a Virtual Summer Camp for Moms, July 14-21st. Its completely free and you’ll get daily video prompts from our mama “counselors” on ways to have fun and take care of yourself this summer. You can register HERE and see a complete line up of the activities we have planned for you! After all, why should our kids have all the fun this summer!
Megan Flatt is a Mommy Strategist and a wellness expert. She helps busy moms rediscover what fulfills them, and then find the time and energy to pursue that passion…without the guilt! She loves her kids, vanilla lattes and books meant for 13 year old girls. You can learn more about her and www.meganflatt.com or join the conversation on Facebook.