The Summer Wish List

I read a suggestion in a parenting magazine to have the kids make up their own list of summer activities. The idea is that they will be more enthusiastic & cooperative for an outing they thought up on their own.

Will wanted no part of something that involved sitting, thinking, and writing. His summer activities come to him through movement & happenstance. His list read:

1.) go swimming
2.) skateboard
...and then he left out the door with his skateboard.

Charlie seemed more intrigued by the idea. But he was having a hard time coming up with activities. So I sat down with him to help get his brainstorm started. Here is Charlie's list:

1.) go swimming
2.) see a parade
3.) climb a big tree
4.) ride the trolley
5.) go to the zoo
6.) go camping
7.) make ice cream
8.) see a bald eagle
9.) learn more Spanish
10.) write a blog
11.) ride a horse
12.) go to a baseball game
13.) go see a play
14.) go to the drive-in theater
15.) make real limeade
16.) pick peaches
17.) go on a safari
18.) grow veggies
19.) go to a football game
20.) collect all the quarters for all fifty states
21.) make a movie
22.) ride in a boat
23.) go fishing
24.) go ice skating
25.) read all of the Harry Potter books (Charlie only)
26.) skateboard at a skatepark (Will only)
27.) shoot a bow & arrow

As you can see, once he got started, there was no stopping him. That's a very long list for a fairly short summer. But I'm going to try and cover as many as possible. Clearly he's a young man who wants to experience the world. And I, for one, am going to enjoy being along for the trip.
Keep an eye out for us this summer. We may be shooting arrows from the back of a horse. Or making limeade at the drive-in theater. Time to get started....