Here in Japan, the summer holidays run for about six weeks from mid-July to the end of August (the school year is April – March). This is now my fourth summer here (what?!) and my third preschool summer holidays. Each year has gotten easier, but they’re always a challenge. The noise, oh the noise! As an introvert, I truly treasure my quiet school days to myself to potter, to work, to sew, to coffee. The kids get on really well, but they’re siblings. So if they’re not playing loud, happy games, they’re fighting and stomping around! This year, I’m determined and prepared to make time for both doing things with the kids, and to also make time for myself, and keep the house tidy and uncluttered! So this is the plan…
We sat down together at the start of this week and wrote down a bucket list of things to do or places to go, plus a rough schedule for the days we’re at home. Until 9am, they’re having breakfast (for which my son can now get cereal for them both, PARTY!!!) and watching the morning shows or playing. That time is my time to get ready for the day, or send some emails, or whatever else I need to do for myself in (relative) peace. At 9am, the TV goes off and in between hanging out washing or similar, the morning is when they have easy access to me. The time when we play games, or sew together (I’ll share that first project soon), or do some craft. This week, we started our summer project of making 6×6 scrapbooks for themselves! I provide some ideas or suggestions, but they make the choices for everything themselves and I love what they’ve done.
Before lunch, they must clean up the table, the living room and the playroom before they can eat. After lunch, it’s my time to do any work I need to do, whether that’s sewing or on the computer. I’m still available to them if they need help or cuddles, but they know that this is their time to play by themselves. At 5pm, when there’s a tune that is played over the local speakers (something that’s done all over Japan!), then it’s time to clean up again, the kids have their baths while I do dishes and clean up ready for dinner, and the kids read books and calm down.
We’ve done this for two days, and it’s working *knock on wood*. The kids are loving having my attention in the mornings, and it means they’re happy to be independent in the afternoons. It’s been a bit of a struggle to change to working in the afternoons (compared to doing my best work in the mornings during term time), but it’s been nice to retreat into my work after a full-on morning. And calming down and getting ready for dinner and bed time at 5pm has also worked well. We’re going to get out and go somewhere (anywhere!) today to get out of the house, and then tomorrow is their first holiday care day at preschool, which will be glorious and quiet and productive, haha! They’ll be going once a week on the days I still have my English classes, which means I will be working hard on those days!
So there you go. That’s what’s happening around here for the next 6 weeks, and I am genuinely excited to see what we create during our home mornings!
Susie says
It soUnds wonderfully organised and fun. Although I’m the total opposite in the holidays. I hate to plan anything. The are invariably full despite any planning – just the way I like it. Have fun.
Beth T. says
It sounds like you’ve come up with a way to make the holidays good for you and for your kids. I was just re-reading a book called “Steady Days” by Jamie C. Martin, and your schedule reminds me of her plans for her home and kids. Although there are no kids at our house, I still benefited from reading her book, just from the realization that I do better when I feel as if I have plotted out some kind of steadiness to my days. Anyway, you might appreciate her approach as well. I look forward to hearing about the good times that are coming during the holidays. Love those scrapbook pages already!
Allison says
I can really understand your need for quiet periods during the day. I think children do pick up on the benefits of those respite times in a family day. Hope you all get to enjoy the summer holiday!
Carla says
My dad worked at home when I was growing up. During holidays, I knew he was there when I needed him, but I loved the free time to play as I liked too. It sounds like a great plan.