It’s late August already, which means another summer is reaching its end and the kids are getting ready to head back to school. I love having my older children home and I’m always a bit emotional when they go back another grade older. Sure, there are some bumps along the way having everyone home all the time and I do like the new routine that fall brings. It’s bittersweet saying goodbye to summer as our kids grow. Whether you work or stay home, the start of a new school year is another chapter of their childhood and of our motherhood.
This year, my oldest is in ninth grade at his junior high which means he is entering into the world of high school sports and Pre-AP classes. My twelve-year-old has moved on from the elementary years and is joining his brother in junior high which I just can’t seem to wrap my head around! Memories of him waving goodbye to me all through those younger grades keep popping into my head. Our seven-year-old is starting second grade at a new school and I am hoping this will be a really encouraging year for him, for all of them! Our three-year-old will soon go from a non-stop, lively house full of brothers to a lot more time just the two of us. Lots of changes are on the horizon as they always seem to be these days. Good changes, but they’re adjustments, nonetheless. No matter what fall brings for our family each year, the end of August is the perfect time to pause for a minute and reflect a little on the summer we’ve just made our way through.
Our favorite way to do this, is our annual End-of-Summer Picnic! I’ve been doing these since my oldest was in kindergarten and it’s become one of their favorite summer traditions. There’s no pressure for it to be perfect and it’s a little different each year, but it’s a special little moment where we can ask each other’s favorite memories from that summer and what everyone is most looking forward to in the new school year. I try to make it feel fancy by getting those little drink umbrellas, fancy toothpicks, making a simple fruit plate, and homemade cupcakes. Some years I make little pinwheels or meat and cheese plates and other years I have ordered sub sandwiches or heated up some hot dogs! Anything works, whether it’s a formal tea-party themed picnic with finger sandwiches or burgers and juice boxes. What matters is sitting down together in those last, dozy days of summer and just enjoying each other’s company.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Main Course:
Meat, cheese, and fruit trays, sandwiches (fancy or of the sub variety if you prefer!), chicken tenders, hot dogs, burgers.
Sides: Pasta salads, fruit, veggies, crackers, chips
Desserts: Cupcakes, cookies, cake, ice cream sundaes, banana splits, ice cream sandwiches, popsicles.
Extras: Fancy toothpicks for sandwiches, fun cupcake toppers, little drink umbrellas, stemless wineglasses with ice cubes, sparkling cider, punch.
Mix in some lawn games, fill up the last of the water balloons, or play catch if everyone’s getting along! That’s all there is to it for a memorable and fun end-of-summer picnic.
If you’re looking for some other ways to wind down summer with your family, try these!
- Backyard Campout
- S’mores around the fire-pit
- Outdoor Scavenger Hunt (there are lots of good ones online if you need some ideas!)
- Movie night
- Blackberry picking
- Family hike/walk
- Read through your summer books one more time before you put them away (if you rotate seasonal books!)
- For the poetry lovers and art-inclined kids, find some summer poems and draw a picture of your favorite one!
How do you feel looking back on this summer? Whether it was fantastic and everything you had hoped for, or it fell short and didn’t live up to your expectations, you can end it on an encouraging and sweet note with your children (or grandchildren!). What are some of your end-of-summer traditions and what would you add to the list? As us moms look ahead to this new school year, I pray that we will be filled with grace, energy, and patience in all that comes our way. I hope you and your family enjoy these last days of summer and that you have a very blessed fall!
Summer and Fall by Nona Keen Duffy
Today it is still summer, tomorrow will be fall.
I see the purple asters, I hear the autumn’s call.
I feel the warm sun shining as a balmy south wind blows;
I see more flowers blooming, and I see the grass still grows.
—
The goldenrod is waving, the bees are in the clover.
I hear the distant honking-the geese are flying over.
The maple leaves are golden; the pumpkins, round and yellow.
The apple cheeks are rosy, the pears are getting mellow.
The nuts are growing rounder, the cornstalks, brown and sear.
By twenty lovely tokens, I know that fall is near.
—
Today it is still summer, tomorrow will be fall.
Today I am still barefoot-oh how I love it all!
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Read more of Maria’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
