I am writing this while being in Tuscany, the cicadas chirping, the sun setting over the vineyards, and the dry heat closing in. Summer is here – if we like it or not. Those who know me know that I don’t particularly like summer – the heat, the insects, the heat, the traffic, the heat, you get the gist. However, in an effort to enjoy this summer more, I have set out to compile a cosy summer list I can do with my kids.

As of last week, Lily is done with kindergarten for the summer. Nine long weeks stretching ahead of us – and I am looking forward to it, while also kind of dreading it. I’ve been thinking about the things I want this summer to feel like to make the memories for a lifetime (no pressure, am I right?). The following list of things is a mixture of things-to-do, as well as habits or routines I want to change over the summer. At the end of summer, I will write an update blog post to see what we managed to do.

Push for A Lie-In

I am usually ridiculously rigid with nap and bedtime routines – sometimes much to my husband’s chagrin. The thing is, I am the one who has to deal with our kids’ grumpiness if sleeping times are off.
Over the summer, however, I really want to push Finn’s nap time (he’s ideal time to go down for his nap would be 11:30), to after lunch, so we can go to bed later and therefore also have a lie-in. Summer should be about lazy mornings, I think.

Have a Picnic once a Week

I love picnics. I love the food you eat, I like the cosiness, and the romantic feeling. And yet, I hardly ever do them. A few years ago, we bought a proper picnic basket which we’ve used two or three times at most. I’ve decided this will change this summer. It’s going to be picnics at least once a week, and, if necessary, just in our garden or the living room floor if the weather doesn’t play along.

My favourite foods for picnics, by the way, are cheese and cucumber sandwiches, as well as PB&J ones. Scones with cream and strawberries are a must for every picnic, too, in my opinion.

Explore our Local Area

I live in Mieders in Stubaital, Tyrol, Austria – a beautiful, bucolic place to live where thousands of visitors flock every year to hike, go skiing and just admire the beauty. And I live right in the centre of it, but feel I’ve barely explored the area. This summer I want to do more hikes, go to local lakes, explore the playgrounds available, as well as markets or festivals. Many of the villages have little events that feature child-friendly activities like face painting, balloon animals or games.

There are also lots of cable car stations where you can go up the mountain and enjoy stunning views. Many of these mountain stations also have forest or water playgrounds for the children, so it’s the perfect summer outing.

Enjoy Our Garden

How privileged am I to have a little garden with our flat!? The answer is very, but I honestly barely use it or enjoy the time out there. This summer, I want to ensure the garden is equipped in a way that I can enjoy it. I am currently trying to find the perfect sun lounger to lie on while the kids screech around in the mini pool we have for them. We have plenty of fun stuff for our kids, but barely things I enjoy in the garden, so that will change this year – and reading a book while sipping iced tea under a large parasol … I might actually enjoy that.

Dress Up with the Kids

While my kids always wear these cute summer outfits, I often tend to throw on the same old faded dress or, even worse, leggings. In order to romanticise the shit out of this summer, I want to take an example from my kids and enjoy the fun of dressing up. My daughter recently stood in front of my closet and said, “Mummy, you’ve got all these lovely dresses.” And promptly asked me to wear a pink, tulle skirt I haven’t worn in ages. Why not actually? Aren’t pink tulle skirts there to be worn for fun? My sad old skirts and dresses will enjoy a revival this summer – and if I’m the person going hiking with a pink tutu, so be it.

Literally Smell the Flowers

OK, I know, what a cliche, but as a part of my slow living journey (another cliche), smelling the flowers is a huge requirement. What I mean by this, however, extends to more than flowers. To feel the grass beneath my feet when I walk barefoot, to smell the saltiness of the ocean, to enjoy the tickling of grass on my calves as we wade through knee-high meadows, and – of course – to smell the flowers. When my kids pick flowers, they always come to me to let me smell. For them, the smelling of flowers is still an immeasurable pleasure and wonder. On a journey to slow living, children truly are the best masters, and I can’t wait to smell the flowers with them.