Just What is Summer Break Anyhow?

I did not imagine that "summer break" would affect me as hard as it has.  For the past 18 years, we counted on part of June, all of July, and most of August to regroup, catch up from the year, and prepare for the following year.  We worked on our urban farm, Phil did odd jobs, we adventured (hiked, camped, went on family excursions).  We  (mostly me) always did a big house clean and purge.  I canned and dried foods, planned, and prepared for the following year.  For me personally, it was a season of rest and catch up.  Phil was able to help out so much with the household and the children and I was able to put time and energy into things I normally couldn't.  This summer season became increasingly more important when we had a growing family and begin homeschooling.  Summer felt pivotal in the key to having a smooth and successful school year.

Last year, we moved 6 weeks before summer break started and lived in remodel chaos, working like crazy to clean up the property and remodel.  Phil got the assistant principal job and we lost 4 weeks of work time and that left us scrambling.  We had to hire help and I did not get any planning time whatsoever.  This school year has been the most stressful, disorganized, and chaotic that I have ever experienced in all my years of teaching public school or homeschool.  Not only was the environment a disaster but I didn't have planning time and I had Barton tutoring and the limitations that go with it to work around.

Our new normal is a much shorter vacation time (a couple of weeks in July).  What does that look like for us?  How do we pack in the summer necessities (like school planning) in a shorter time frame?  How do we get things done that are on our huge to do list?  How do we incorporate a summer school approach beings that Phil is gone all of June and August and I am in charge of the children on my own and need structure?  How do we get rest and rejuvenation?  How do we fit in fun?

This year, I think our main goal is to get unpacked, organized, and set up for the next year.  We need some systems in place.

I saw this iridescent beetle when I was out watering one afternoon, thinking all this over and feeling bummed.

Pioneer Park:

We decided to try a family outing in the evening.  It was a hot day and the upstairs is miserable in hot weather so I packed a dinner and we decided to check out the local park and trail along the river thinking the trees and the water would make for some cool relief.

The initial start was ok...I was a little cross because we got a 2 hour later start than planned.  The bridge was lovely and the trail under the trees started out pleasant enough....

...until the trail all but disappeared and we ended up walking through a field (not good on the allergy sufferers).  Then ran into a fence line with no trespassing signs indicating that the direction we were coming from and where we had been walking was off limits.  This was a clearly marked trail on a posted map, obviously now outdated.  We had to climb over the fence to get to the next trailhead.  Then, the walk along the water under the trees ended up being a walk in the hot sun, on a trail that fizzled out, with very little shade, again walking in grass.  There was a stream that would have been refreshing to wade in but a sign at the trailhead had warned to stay away from the "Stayton Ditch" because it is part of the drinking water system.  However, we had no idea where "the ditch" was because there were no further signs.

If this is "the ditch" the ducks didn't get the memo.

This summed up the attitude of the children on the walk.  It was 3 miles of hot evening sun, poorly maintained grassy trails, little shade, refreshing water just out of reach, and socks filled with pokeys to make people even more uncomfortable.  

We made it back to the park and had dinner.  Meanwhile, the most obnoxious and foolish group of Jr. High students showed up to make spectacles of themselves with all out embarrassing behavior. We let the children play on the playground for a few minutes before heading to the parking lot.  We passed three different vehicles with men sitting alone in them, parked right by the playground.  That was more than a little unnerving.  

Think we will chalk up Pioneer Park as being a total bust.