I know it’s such a cliché, but WHERE DOES THE TIME GO? This week marks the beginning of May. MAY, people. May is going to be utter mayhem, that’s for sure, and I am already bracing for impact. Carla has so much going on. Three performances, a school presentation, a school trip, a fifth grade “graduation” ceremony, TWO class parties. On top of all the normal day-to-day chaos, of course, with three extracurricular activities that each meet twice weekly. And then BAM!, it will be summer break.
I tried to plan this summer so that it would be easier than last summer. Last summer, of course, we both bought and sold a house, so at least we won’t be dealing with THAT nonsense again. But I think we also over-scheduled Carla last summer. She had summer camp, plus she continued her music lessons through summer. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but I felt like we were constantly on the go – like there was no “break” from the busy schedule of the school year.
This summer, I want time to relax by the pool and have friends over. But… Carla still wants to do summer camp. I am FULLY in favor of camp. While it sounds restful and decadent to spend the summer doing nothing by the pool, I feel like our days would end up being filled by a lot of screen time. And how many playdates can I really handle? Not enough to give Carla the same kind of social interaction she’ll get at summer camp, that’s for sure. So. Summer camp it is.
Okay, so summer camp by itself still gives us evenings and weekends to play and relax. But… Carla is considering trying out a new sport and maybe a new musical instrument. On top of that, we have two other commitments that will take place weekly after camp. Ugh. Now summer is sounding just as hectic as the school year!
Maybe this is simply a busy season of our lives and I should learn to lean into it, instead of trying to force things to slow down? (Note: I realize that, once again, these are the Champagnest of “problems.”)
One thing that’s always constant: the need to plan and prepare meals. Once again, we’ll have two nights of takeout. I am ready to be done with THAT aspect of this school year. Takeout is fantastic once in awhile, but I am weary of it by now. And the annoying thing is, no matter how much I try to pack my day with nutrient dense foods, by the time dinner rolls around, I am so ravenous I scarf down a bunch of fries or chips. I love fries and chips, don’t get me wrong. But I don’t want or need to be eating them twice weekly. Well. Just a few more weeks of this nonsense left.
(You may be thinking, Suzanne, simply DON’T ORDER the fries or chips. And yet… I find this hard to do??? When it comes down to it, I am extremely picky. My child, also extremely picky, only has two or three places where she will deign to eat on these takeout nights. And there are only a few options at each of them that I can stand to eat. Plus, I have a lifelong resistance to paying good money for food I don’t like. If I’m going to spend extra money on takeout, I am going to enjoy it, dammit. So. Loading up on fries and chips. I am my own worst enemy, etc.)
I DO have control over what I can make at home, though! So I will try to compensate for the takeout with some protein and veggie packed meals.
Dinners for the Week of April 29-May 5
- Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken with Potatoes and Veggies: You KNOW I love a sheet pan meal. And I have a bunch of broccoli in the fridge that needs to be used up.
- Caesar Chicken with Salad: I cannot for the life of me remember where I saw this idea, but it sounds easy enough: marinate some chicken in Caesar salad dressing and roast with a little parmesan sprinkled on. Pair it with a salad. My only question is whether I dress the salad with the Caesar dressing? Or go for a light vinaigrette instead???? I don’t want to over-Caesar myself.
- Baked Pork Chops and Zucchini: Another sheet pan meal! This recipe calls for asparagus, but I already have some zucchini on hand, so I will probably use that instead.
- Golden Cauliflower Chickpea Bowls: These sound so nourishing right now. I bet my husband will want a chicken breast alongside his, and maybe I will add a salmon filet. We’ll see. I wonder if I could coax Carla into eating this? She likes crispy chickpeas…
What are you eating, these last few days of April? How’s your summer shaping up?
These all sound yummy! I feel like I’m just so bad at meal planning. I am the type of person where certain things are just hard for me to envision well in advance- like, our schedules are not quite fixed enough in this season (too much day to day variability!) that it’s sooo hard for me to sit down on a Thursday and know what exactly our NEXT Thursday night is going to look like. Or what we’ll feel like eating, or how my day will go for having time to cook, etc. I feel like that sounds silly when I say it (excuses?) but it really feels like whenever I try to plan this stuff it always falls apart! That said, I have been still trying to at least have food on hand for some specific meals… but yeah, the whole meal planning/cooking thing is not really fun to me when we’re in an extra busy phase. I like cooking best when I have loooots of open time and can do so leisurely.
I am 100% with you. And even when I am diligent about planning, things often fall apart at some point. (Which is why I have broccoli and zucchini in my fridge to deal with. 😂)
YUM! I’m making that cauliflower and chickpea dinner at some point this week. Not sure when, because our week is also chaotic. Yes, it’s a busy time of year.
I think you’re lucky Carla wants to go to camp. My daughter only wants to do one week of a day camp… so I’m not sure EXACTLY what she’ll be doing for the rest of the summer??? I mean, I want her to have some down time, but nine weeks of nothing sounds like a lot.
Nine weeks of nothing DOES sound like a lot! I feel like boredom in measured doses can be a good thing, but for some kids (and moms – HI, it’s me) it is much better to have a set schedule.
I’m so impressed Carla wants summer camp and a new sport this summer. I hope you lean into it! My teen usually doesn’t want to do anything, so I envy you a teensy bit!
The cauliflower dish does sound delish!
She LOVES camp. Any situation where she gets to socialize with a bunch of kids all day, she’s there!
Noah and I made veggie-haloumi bowls with yogurt sauce on Saturday. Last night Beth made cabbage roll enchiladas (think enchiladas with cabbage leaves instead of tortillas). Today through Wednesday I’m making ravioli with asparagus, “beef” and broccoli stir-fry, and tofu and veggies in Thai curry broth. North will make something on Thursday– I don’t know what, and Friday we’ll order pizza.
This summer is going to be very strange. North got a job as a counselor at a sleep-away camp from early June to early August, so mostly they won’t be home, though they have a week off in July and they may come home some weekends.
Oh gosh, yes, a strange summer indeed. Having kids leaving the nest is a stage that sounds very emotionally challenging. I hope North enjoys their experience! And a veggie halloumi bowl sounds very intriguing — I really like halloumi.
Here’s the recipe. We didn’t have enough asparagus, so like you we subbed zucchini for half of it. We also didn’t have sumac, so we used za’atar.
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021984-narjissiya-with-asparagus-halloumi-and-sumac
I don’t tend to meal plan too far in advance, but tonight is Lemon Chicken and Spiced Rice, tomorrow is going to be BBQ Pulled Pork with corn and the rest of the week…*crickets*
Again, two days is about my max for planning.
Summer is such a weird one for me – I look forward to it and then it arrives and I’m like: Okay, now what do we do? The kids have camp, but then we have lots of “down” weeks with not much scheduled. I also feel like if I fill our weeks, the weekends are still a lot of down time, so I need to get planning – but not everything has been released yet in terms of schedules and NOW I’M IN A TIZZY.
Oh, and my daughter has applied to work at a local camp (volunteer, not paid!) and we don’t find out until early JUNE if she has been accepted which makes it sooo hard to plan.
Anyhoo. I feel you on the gentle/extreme summer angst.
You don’t find out until JUNE?! That is so late! Why?!?!?! I mean, in my experience, summer camps are some of the most disorganized institutions ever, so I guess it doesn’t really surprise me. But I am always so miffed by HOW they are so disorganized.
Our meals have been so simple lately – cheese ravioli with pesto, burgers, grilled chicken salads, breakfast for dinner. This time of year just seems overwhelming and why does everybody still want to eat?? Haha! Summer camps are not looked upon with joy in this house, sadly they became a necessity for the younger boys when we opened the shop. Trying some new ones this year hoping they will like them better.
Seriously, Colleen: WHY does everybody still want to eat??? Ha! Simple is such a good way to go this time of year.
I hear mixed messages about summer camps, sometimes empowering or entertaining, other times a waste of resources. Hoping you find some that are worthy.
I’m with you about paying good money for food I don’t like. I like the ease of takeout, but it doesn’t always live up to my expectations. Then I feel bitter… so my approach is to get the fries you know you’ll like.
YES. Get the fries you know you like! I support that philosophy.
I remember summers seemed SO stressful when mine was young. So I feel for you.
Lounging by the pool seems like the perfect way to spend the summer to me.
And I’m with you – where DOES the time go?! How is May already upon us?
Cauliflower and chick peas–two of my favorites! I’m not familiar with summer camps but it sounds like Carla thrives at them. Treating ourselves is important whether that’s occasional 🙂 unhealthy food or a lazy day/meal. I’m not much into denying myself!
Yay for the end of the school year. And boo to overcrowded summers. In theory Boy Scouts stops in the summer, but there are camps that take up 2-3 weeks, and then the boys have a vacay with us and a vacay with their mom…there isn’t a lot of summer left over.
Eek between the puppy and the me-working-later-than-everyone-else thing I don’t think that dinners are ever going to get back to normal in our house. All that I know for sure is to always get the fries.
“Maybe this is simply a busy season of our lives and I should learn to lean into it, instead of trying to force things to slow down?” < < hahahaha my entire life/attitude adjustment/blog
I feel you, sister! Keep on keeping on!
That chicken-in-caesar-dressing sounds good! Have to try that.
Ok, so we don’t have a pool at our house (I WISH) but we really do spend the bulk of the summer by the (country club) pool, and I have NO REGRETS. Dorothy and Cooper both have activity things to do (dance tryouts are literally 8 weeks long; Coop dives on my campus for three hours a day) and hopefully national tournaments to attend, but otherwise, POOL. (Minnie is going to camp at her school 3 mornings a week while I teach my awesome in-person class, and Dorothy has a dance intensive for a week right after school starts. BUT OTHER THAN THAT. POOL.)
(You ARE in a busy season, and buckle up because it def lasts through middle school. But for us high school has been way less intense. Or the kids are just way more capable? Either way, it gets less hectic).
When my kids were Carla’s age, we ended up enrolling them in various different camps – like a week of nature camp, two weeks of traditional camp, two weeks of art camp, etc. Maybe that would be a good way for her to try new things without feeling like you’re overly busy?
Interesting about the activities! I admit I am giddy at the thought of a break in the travel sports season 🙂 It’s also our bad weather season so having outdoor practices in june/july/aug is silly wishful thinking anyway as a huge portion would be cancelled due to weather.
could she do camp for a few weeks and then some chill time? we have a patchwork of camp, a few weeks of down time for my oldest especially, and a M-F overnight camp for 3 weeks. I’m looking forward to things being *slightly* less busy esp in the evenings!
I can’t remember if you talked about this before but is there a way you could make something in advance and then just heat it and eat it on the busy days? I seem to remember you maybe saying that your family was not into that or something, but I wonder if you just roasted a bunch of veggies one day and then had roasted veggies one night and a salad the next or something if that would be a little easier?
I have a hard time ordering healthy when I eat out. The temptation is just too strong to finally “let loose and have fun” since I don’t have to cook! Ordering a salad at a restaurant just seems like a waste of money and is not really a fun treat. However, if you start eating out a lot, it IS hard to rein it in!
I’m enjoying this phase of life when May is just another ordinary month. We have Paul’s kinder music program next week but it’s during the day (which I am a ok with since they let us know this in the fall – plus it’s only the kinders performing so will be 30 minutes I’m guessing. Sign me up), plus our anniversary date night which I am looking forward to. School goes until mid-June so we aren’t at the end of the year part yet so overall it just a regular old month. Our summer is easy too since Paul does the summer kids program which is amazing and very cheap! We have a couple of trips planned to my parents but that’s kind of it for plans. But this is our fave time of year in Minnesota so we don’t plan too much so we can be around to enjoy it.
HOW IN THE WORLD is it May already??
I read this at school and couldn’t comment, and now I’m rereading and can’t think of anything intelligent to say. Other than, lounge by the pool! Every chance you get! Especially if summer camp and a new sport are in the mix. And Eve and I went out for lunch on Friday and she had a caesar salad with chicken and it looked awesome.