Summer... what is it to you?

What is summertime to you? Is it a chance to put away all the books and play for a few months? Is it just a continuation of normal operations with a little swimming thrown in?

Even though we homeschool, I find that we have to follow some traditional schedules because of all of the extracurricular activities we take part in. Most of our co-ops, classes and teams take a break over the summer, or at least slow down for a while. This forces us to take a break from the usual weekly treadmill, and I think that is a good thing. I'm still chugging away at some schoolwork. We never do finish up during the year, so it never really ends, but it's still a slower pace with a great deal of other (different) things thrown in, and we all need a change of pace once and a while.

For me, summertime has become three things. First, it's a time we can finally get the heck out of Dodge. I grew up moving around as a military child, and even though the net result was my wanting to put down roots somewhere, I do get bitten by the travel bug periodically and just want to drop everything and GO somewhere. It doesn't help that I read blogs like this one. SO... we do travel, as much as my husband's work and my sanity can handle, and I consider it education in that any sort of experience of the world is education.

In between, I also use the summer as a chance to put the kids in summer camps. So far we have just sampled the daily variety. We have yet to take the plunge into an overnight camp because my daughter has been reticent... and I also just found out what a good camp costs! No, there is no shortage of weekly camps around here, and I think it's a great way to delve a little deeper into things we have been studying throughout the year. As I write this, both of my kids are in a piano camp. They were a little dubious of this, but they are going to come out of it a little more informed and experienced and just a little bit better at music. I'm not sure I can say they are loving it now, but they are enjoying themselves, and I love the exposure they are getting to kids of other cultures who also play, to top notch teachers, and to an ensemble experience. They do art camps, sports camps, and anything else they are interested in. Last year they got to try out a little chorus experience, and though I'm sad we couldn't continue with that, they had a great time. My son, the sports nut, I am happy to say, has no problem trying out sports over the summer that he's never done to see if he likes them. So far, he's liked them all and I love that he is comfortable going into any new camp with or without people he knows and being able to have a good time.

I do have an ulterior motive with the camps, however. The truth is, it gives me some time away from the kids. For a few weeks over the summer, mom can get a break from the constant teaching and entertaining. I love my kids, but I do need a break every now and then, and camps are a great way for me to get that time without feeling guilty. The kids are positively occupied and I can turn my energies toward other things.

So, for the last two weeks I have been catching up on yard work, watching my husband put in some lovely raised garden beds (I am SO excited about finally having a REAL garden!), purging our basement of years worth of clutter and things I've been needing to get rid of (Can you say BOXES and BOXES of homeschool material?), and trying to plan for next year's learning.

Yes, I usually do have a plan. Usually I don't follow it... but I do make a plan. Any good teacher should have an idea of what they are doing, right? Life and my kids seem to always sabotage my plan, but I still make one. It takes time to do this though... uninterrupted time. Seems I have to send people away to get that.

Anyway, what is summer to you? Has it changed since homeschooling became part of your life? I'd love to hear what you think.

 (Recent white board art a la Jessi. I like the chaos it implies.:))