Renee Chou: Planning for a no-pressure summer

This summer, I vow to plan less and enjoy MORE.

That’s a pretty bold goal, considering I’m very type A. I like to plan. I write things down in my old-school planner because 1) that’s the only way I’ll remember anything and 2) seeing appointments, tasks and plans written down in the appropriate boxes makes feel somewhat in control. Routines can create a comforting rhythm to life. Schedules are helpful blueprints that bring order to chaos.

Routines and schedules can also sometimes feel ... like a drag.

So for the next three months, I’m saying “no” to the calendar running our life — and “yes” to life, unfolding.

We are taking a break from dance, gymnastics and swim classes. We’ll resume in the fall, but I deliberately did not sign Elsa up for any classes or camps for the summer. Not that I was anywhere near “overscheduling” my five-year-old, but I did start to feel a little bit of “routine fatigue.” This summer we have two out-of-state vacations planned. The rest of the time Elsa will still go to private preschool while my husband and I are at work. Afternoons and evenings, however, will be free of any weekly obligations. And that’s exciting to me!

This will give us even more freedom to figure out what to do, based on how we feel at that moment. Let’s hit the pool — or better yet, drive down to the beach. How about we go get some ice cream? Let's visit that new park we’ve heard so much about. We can start checking off the recommendations in WRAL’s Go Ask Mom Summer Fun Guide. Take a hike. Go outside and join up with the neighbor kids. Or stay inside, play, and come up with our own fun.

I think we underestimate the power and the importance of “downtime.” We're so used to being "busy," but is that time spent meaningful? Downtime is necessary for building children's brains and feeding parent's souls.

Here's to making more time for "downtime." For me, I've realized sometimes the most enjoyable weekends are the ones when we didn't have anything pre-planned. Everything was spontaneous — and there was joy in finding what fun could we come up with next, as opposed to going from Point A to B to C and not being able to truly enjoy the moments. 

This is the last summer before Elsa will enter kindergarten and be on the traditional calendar of public school. We will keep her in her private pre-kindergarten class until school starts, so we don’t have to worry about summer camps and other childcare arrangements. Next summer, we’ll have to come up with lots of plans to fill the long summer break when she's not in school — including weeks of camps and organized activities. All the more reason to make THIS summer one to just RELAX, enjoy, and be fully present.

So at the top of my to-do list: a no-pressure summer! I'll be sure to make a note of it in my planner.