Tell us About Your Summer Bucket List - do you make one?

Summer is such a precious time of the year. While the daylight is longer, the days sure do feel like they fly by faster. With just 18 summers with each kiddo, how do we make the most of them? As 6 moms of 18 kids combined, we chat about the idea of creating a summer bucket list - does this help keep the days full of excitement or does it create a list reminiscent of New Years resolutions - fun to make, but daunting to follow through on? We each take a different approach to filling our summer days with fun - some celebrate making a list, some have annual traditions to look forward to and some embrace a routine that is married with bigger events to celebrate. As with anything, it is all about what works for your family. We hope that by sharing these ideas, you'll find an approach you relate to and perhaps a few new ideas.

Emilee, Book Aficionado from @The BookClubCart

I love the idea of bucket lists. To have a list of activities for you and your family to accomplish is a such sweet way to foster togetherness. Although we have never made official bucket lists for the summer, we have our summer go-to’s we like to make sure we get done every year.

Our summer must do’s are categorized by month. In June we love to golf, spend time at the neighborhood pool, and travel with our middle’s sons soccer team for their annual tournament in Green Bay, WI. Golfing as a family are special days that just the five of us share together. June afternoons spent at the neighborhood pool are so fun because friends and neighbors are always there. One of our favorite weekends of the whole summer is our soccer team’s trip to Green Bay for a tournament. The entire team and their families attend. We have all bonded so much from this experience.

In July we spend the fourth in Wisconsin celebrating with my family. Their town puts on the most picturesque July 4th celebration. There is lots of special cousin time! We always take one family vacation in July. This year we are taking two! One to Hilton Head and one to Martha’s Vineyard. We are so looking forward to heading back to two of our favorite beach destinations.

August is back to school! Last year we started a tradition with my college friends to get together; husbands and kids included. It was such a hit we are doing it again this year! To share in motherhood is a special gift and I am so thankful for those friendships.

Although not a conventional bucket list, it is more a must-do formula for our short summers that helps us live that time to the fullest.

Kim, Home Connoisseur from @Reverie.and.Root & Founder of Spilling Goodness

Summer buckets lists feel like a great idea - but, for me they actually make a collection of fun ideas feel like a to-do list. Setting this expectation that we are going to squeeze in each wish list item takes the spontenaity out of summer moments- in my mind. However, we do love to have a variety of new adventures to look forward to, ideas about fun things to learn about a few consistent favorites.

Our new adventures typically include a family vacation to a new destination - this year, we're headed to Vail! Plus, my oldest went on a school trip to Washington DC, my middle is going to a sleep-away sports camp. I also chat with each of my kiddos about what they would like to learn about. I find summer to be the perfect time to explore whatever it is they find interesting. For my youngest, that is a Science Camp about space while my oldest is taking a Spanish class.

Then, for our consistent favorites - we always love afternoons at our neighborhood pool, we love to carve out time at a lake in Wisconsin. And, one of my favorite annual traditions is on the last day of summer, we ride our bikes to a local restaurant (Colonial Cafe) that serves a "kitchen sink" sundae. As in, everything, IN the kitchen sink. Think of it as a giant banana split that serves a crowd. They even give you a bumper sticker for finishing it and we always rise the occasion.

Jen, Bespoke Travel Designer from @GlobalonDemandTravel

When it comes to summer bucket lists, I’ll be honest—our family does best with a routine. With three kids, two of whom are very competitive (and all of whom love to push each other’s buttons), having a daily rhythm is key to keeping the peace and making the most of the summer months. While we don’t create a formal bucket list, we do plan for a few big things that give summer structure and excitement.

One of our staples is Camp Greenway—a favorite around here. The kids spend their days hiking, kayaking, doing art projects, tackling the ropes course, and even participating in karaoke competitions. It’s the kind of experience that wears them out in the best way and gives them a sense of independence and adventure. We also always carve out time for a summer family vacation and make sure we travel to see extended family. And of course, there’s swim team, which fills up a good chunk of our mornings and brings a sense of community to the season.

Outside of those bigger anchor points, our day-to-day is pretty simple. Mornings are for reading and a little bit of math—nothing intense, just enough to keep their brains engaged. Then it’s free play outside as much as possible. I’ve found that when we keep expectations clear and the days predictable (with just enough flexibility), everyone is happier. No fancy checklist needed—just a mix of structure, fresh air, and space to be kids.

Rebecca, Woman's Leadership Coach from @PleasantlyAggressive

I’ve often begun the summer with a bucket list, but I’ve never followed through 100%. It feels a little like

New Years resolutions! Now that my kids are 13 and 16, and very independent, I need to be more intentional about planning our time together. In general, summer is my time to go with the flow of my kids. I remember the summers of my youth and the randomness of it all. Making new friends, riding bikes to undisclosed destinations, getting slurpees at the 7-11, going fishing or swimming in the nearby pond, and lots of sleeping in. The independence I gained was invaluable! So, I’ve adopted a similar mindset for my kids. I want them to feel like they have control of this short window of time to explore and be bored. But, I miss them when they’re off living their best lives!

So, for this summer we’ve discussed a few bucket list items: ride the new roller coaster at Great America, hike at Starved Rock, go to the movies (only on a rainy day), fly fishing on the DuPage River, and go see a Women’s Professional Softball Game.

If we can squeeze all of that in around some camps and, oh yeah WORK, I think we’ll secure some great summer memories.

Ashley, Millennial Mom Nutrition Coach from @AshleyBreaksTheCycle

I’ve actually never created a summer bucket list with my family before — we usually just roll with whatever comes up. Living in a coastal town with an amazing beach, we kind of wait all year for warm weather to just do our thing. Between the pool, occasional boat days, and our town’s drive-on beach where we meet up with friends, summer always fills up fast.

But this question made me pause — and ask the kids what they would love to do this summer. We came up with a fun little list together! From local water park trips to bike rides along the Cape Cod Canal, and even making s’mores on the beach, it gave us something to look forward to together. Now comes the fun (and real) part: actually following through.

Might be our new summer tradition. Simple, sweet, and totally doable.

Ali, Book Aficionado from @The BookClubCart

Summer bucket list are such a family favorite in our house! Seeing the kids write down their list at the start of the summer adds to the excitement that school is over and summer is here!!

We encourage them to write down activities they would like to do and places they would like to visit. We are so busy with activities during the school year this gives us a chance to do a few of those things we haven’t had time do.

But the most important and fun part of the bucket list are their personal goals for the summer. My oldest has fallen in love with cooking so this year he picked a few dishes that he would like to learn to make on his own. I love to see what they come up with at the start of the summer!

Of course my husband and I have a few things we put together for the family summer bucket list. Little things like weekly family game night, a family pickleball game, local area to hike and adventure around.

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