A slow summer

[Itssopriceybutlooksamazing]

I want that for my 5 year old Dd this year.

I want to try to recreate the kind of summers I had, where they stretched out for ages, we got bored easily, but weren’t unhappy. We played in the paddling pool, had water fights, ran through the sprinklers, went on bike rides etc.

Already friends are planning lots and asking us to join, which is lovely, but I just really want to not be scheduled, to have to many events booked. I want to wake up, not have to get dressed, make pancakes, watch tv, walk the dog around the block.

Anyone else craving a slow summer? Any other ideas for creating the perfect summer, mainly me and my Dd for 5/6 weeks?

What else did we do in the 80/90’s?

*Too many events

Why is this unreasonable 😂

You cannot recreate the slow Summer you had. Your DD will have a slow Summer holiday because it is her turn. Every year she has now is like five or six of yours.

As we get older the years come by quicker. But for now this is her Summer. Let her make choices of the things to do. She will fill those hours with days.

In the 80s and 90s I played out with friends for most of the summer apart from when we went away on holiday. Either that or I'd be left at the side of a cricket field to amuse myself while my dad played cricket 🤣

I'm hoping to have more of a slow summer this year. The kids love just being in the house and garden or just going to our local NT (not much of a journey as only 5 miles away).

Pack a picnic lunch and go for a long wander. Sounds lovely and I will try the same.

Unfortunately I think long summers are only reserved for the young. Time goes too quickly as an adult.

I think @Chatillon has it right. We as adults occupy a very different world from our children. We and they experience the same days, the same events in very different ways.

For me the world feels fast and small. For my kids, it feels slow and vast. I can see broad plans and a course laid out for weeks, months, years ahead. They’re not entirely sure of the shape of the next few days. I don’t think my parents planned slow endless summers for me, I’m sure for them they passed in a flash, filled with plans and jobs and events. But I experienced them anyway.

The best thing about summer hols was playing out with no adults

No iPads
We had no special scheduled kids tv on our 3 channels either
Walked everywhere
3 meals a day....snacks were fruit from local trees!

@ForeverFriendsAndPierrot

We had why don't you every morning during the holidays... loved that show

You don’t need to do anything special, just don’t plan stuff! I do think this planning of what to do in the holidays and doing things everyday is a really modern and unnecessary phenomenon . My kids do well on 3 days at home 2 1/2 days out doing something small like swimming or park and 1 fuller day out. Weekends are mixed but more social.

My plan is to do one "big" trip of 2 days (1 night away) and a few day trips over the 3 weeks I have my kids. It will work out as something planned every 2-3 days. Add in that both want mates over, the odd day of board games/ film day/ the youngest's obsession with the new cookbook they have and the holidays will be well filled with lots of small activities, but plenty of time to be bored. Can't let mine roam, exactly, given where we live (next to a very busy A road) and the weather doesn't seem like a picnic is likely anytime soon, but I'm sure the many walks we'll do will still seem slow and like a typical childhood summer 😁

Well I think long slow summers come about naturally from benign neglect. Parents that just get on with their day to day lives while ensuring the kids are fed and clothed.

So just do you, work etc and just tow dd along or let he do her own thing as it happens.

We have long summer holidays with next to nothing planned because we have next to no money and haven't ever really been able to afford anything other than a weekend at a caravan and a few days out to the seaside or somewhere. My dc spend most of their days off at home playing in the house, garden or street either alone, together or with friends.