I have let go of so many things during this global pandemic; for example, showering every day, getting dressed from the waist up and doing my makeup for client video calls, caring about distance learning assignments (sorry, kids), my tolerance for situations where I need to go out in the world (the other week I decided I could not possibly schedule two errands in the same day).
Three months of intense overwhelm and crankiness fueled by full-time work demands, distance learning, racial atrocities, and a relentless stream of dumpster fire news broke me. When school let out on Monday I breathed a huge sigh of relief and thought, in this next phase I need to replace crankiness with creativity. I know for a fact that creativity is the thing that will save my exhausted nervous system.
In the past I have tried to structure summer with camps and a bucket list loaded with local ideas in order to give my kids structure, and also, admittedly, so I could feel like Fun Mom. Well, I'm also letting all of that slide off the table and instead, the summer bucket list will be short but creatively oriented, both for me and my kids. Here's what's on it:
- Read a novel out loud with my 9-year-old (now that she is a voracious reader I usually embrace her reading time to do my own thing)
- Create art with my kids via a watercolor class I'm planning on signing up for
- Make a beautiful cake for a loved one just because
- Focus on nature via time outdoors, my indoor plant rooting project (filling new pots with clippings from existing plants), and learning about growing vegetables
- Launch a new podcast (I think this may be happening next week!)
- Edit the book I wrote during the pandemic (and ideally find a home for it)
- Create an intentional content plan for the remainder of 2020 (see below survey ask; I could use your help!)
What's on your summer bucket list? Are you bothering with one? Honestly, it's OK to let it go. We are at the point of no rules.
