At the beginning of this summer, when Lucas graduated from preschool in June, I felt overwhelmed by trying to figure out ways to keep our kids busy, active, and learning. Well, now that July is almost finished (how did that happen?!?), I’m trying to cram in lots of fun activities before school starts in September!

Also, I’m finding myself seeing the summer through Lucas’s eyes. I think that it’s because he’s going off to kindergarten this fall and things will change immensely then ~ he won’t be at home with me anymore during the day, like he has been for the first five years of his life! And this summer has been such a different (and sometimes difficult) one for him, although fun, too, of course.

First, there was preschool ending ~ and all of the emotions that came with it. Excitement about graduation, sadness at the thought of not seeing his friends and teachers every day anymore, looking forward to summer and playdates but also lots of hesitation about kindergarten and a brand-new school, kindergarten screening … it was a huge milestone for him and a lot to go through emotionally. Then, we introduced him to his new summer camp, where he’s gone from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday! (He doesn’t go every day, but still …) A few of his preschool friends also attend the camp, but Lucas cries sometimes when I drop him off, saying that he doesn’t want to be away from me. :( But this camp is good for him, I think … he needs to develop more independence, and I think it’ll help him when he goes to school this fall. He has a huge fear of being left behind/me not picking him up, so this camp provides reassurance that I will be there to get him! He played soccer yesterday for the first time and said that it was awesome!

So then, in the midst of camp, I took the kids to VBS for a week. That was completely new, too. They met some new friends and were again away from me for the entire morning (although I was working in the infants’ room). They learned a bunch of new songs, were introduced to new teachers, and had to get up very early … such a change from what we’re used to.

Summer camp continues through August 13th, but we have our Indiana trip in early August. And there’s another VBS in late August that we’re thinking about taking the kids to. All of these brand-new activities and experiences must be quite a change for a five-year-old! He’s doing great, and I think he’s having fun this summer, but he has quite a social calendar and is experiencing so many new things. It’s all wonderful for him. And of course, we do have those days when we just relax here at home, play video games, watch movies, and hang out. But it has to be tough being five, you know? He’s at the age where he’s now able to do so many new things, and I’m so proud of him for trying these new experiences!