Summer Rhythm

A couple weeks into summer we are starting to fall into a new rhythm. Time has been going quickly and our days have been packed. That's not quite what I was planning for, but it has been mostly good, and there is still plenty of summer left for slowing down a bit more.

One of my (many) goals for the summer has been to continue some of the rhythm of school for Drew and Garrett. For a few reasons: the importance of rhythm (in general, and in particular for the three of us), the hope of easing transitions - away from school and back to school in the fall, and the desire to provide for the boys (and participate in myself) a bit of the goodness of the daily and weekly rhythms they experience in school.

So, three days a week we are starting our mornings with "circle time" - verses and songs - and an activity that they would normally do in school: bread baking, painting, drawing, nature walks. It's a nice way to start the day. We had a bit of a rocky start as I fumbled along trying to figure it out, and as Drew struggled with wanting things to be done just how they were in school. But I think we're starting to fall into a rhythm of our own.

Aside from a music class one morning and our weekly visit from Grandpa Mike and sometimes Grandma Char, the rest of the time is pretty much open (except when it gets filled...). It's a little intimidating to me to have big chunks of open, unscheduled time, but Drew and Garrett (usually) can't get enough play time, and it's very nice to have time to (sometimes) make progress on some projects. And so our days go. I hope yours are going along contentedly this summer, too!