It is almost summertime! You can feel it in the air. I am not sure who gets more excited about the end of the school year, my kids or me. By this time each year, I am ready for the easy breezy summer schedule. However, we all know “easy breezy” can turn into “lazy” and then to the dreaded “I’m bored” if we are not careful. If you are like me and trying to balance the strict school year schedule and the chaos of no plan, you can find some great ideas in Pam Molnar’s feature, A Routine of Summer Fun. She allows plenty of time for a slower pace but provides fun themes and ideas to keep kids engaged.
We have included our annual VBS Directory to give you even more options for summer fun. Vacation Bible School was always one of my very favorite summer activities, and my girls shared in the VBS excitement too. We still sing some of the songs! Plus, attending Vacation Bible School is typically free or very low cost, so check them out!
Can’t wait until summer for a little extra family fun? Does the fantastic spring weather have you itching (no pun intended) to get outside? Then check out the Family Calendar. You will find plenty to keep you busy this month!
The school year’s end also brings graduation ceremonies and celebrations. Whether your child is graduating kindergarten or high school, watching your children grow up is definitely bittersweet. We are so proud of our kids as they develop, learn, and grow, but knowing that the end goal is to get them ready to go out on their own can be tough, especially if you are looking at high school graduation and sending them out into the world. There isn’t a way to completely prepare them, but we can do our best. From day one we try to teach them character traits they will need, like being kind, sharing, and being respectful, but as they grow, more tangible skills are required. Ideally, we start teaching these skills gradually over the pre-teen and teen years, but as families get closer to the “launch” date, there can be a bit of panic, wondering if they have the practical skills needed. To help with our checklist, Tanni has, Ph.D. has a strong list in her feature Grade Ready! Getting Your Kids Ready For College.
Speaking of graduates, I would like to take a moment to congratulate the class of 2023! I know many of you, and I am over the moon proud of you all. The ones I know are insightful, kind, intelligent, talented, and strong. It is a pleasure to know you. Congratulations, and may God bless every one of you on your next adventure. As you make your way through the next stage of life, just remember to make good decisions and don’t forget to call home… often.
And, of course, no May would be complete without celebrating the amazing moms out there. Being a mom is not always easy, and it is not always fun, but it is totally worth it! Happy Mother’s Day to all the fellow moms, grandmothers, aunts, and other women in our children’s lives!
Wishing everyone a joy-filled May!
Author: Lynn Knighton
Lynn has called the Gulf area home since 2006 with her husband Brad and their 3 daughters. Following the sale of her Abrakadoodle franchise, Lynn still wanted to serve families and help them thrive. Becoming the Publisher of Greater Pensacola Parents was the perfect opportunity. Now she invests into family's lives each month by providing the area's #1 go-to resource for moms and dads.
