Twelve years after graduation, I'm still cranking out "Cabaniss plans." These were renowned at school for being really great ideas... with at least one major detail left out of the planning. Usually more. Details schmetails. Who needs food or transportation or directions anyway?

 

With an infant and toddler in tow, I'm trying to get better at planning my weeks, because if John has nothing to do it means trouble for all concerned. For this summer at least, Monday is an art project day. Tuesday we do something in the kitchen. Wednesday is our gardening and/or nature day. Thursdays we go to the lake, and Fridays we go out to breakfast with the daily Mass crowd and then off to a park with other homeschooling families.

 

After one week on this routine (can I call it a weekly routine after only one week?) I have learned something, and I disclose the lesson here for your edification and my humility. It is not enough to say "We will do an art project on Monday." One must actually have chosen a specific project. Then one needs to ascertain the materials needed, and whether one actually possesses all of said materials, and if so, where in the house they are stashed. Then a specified time for the project is helpful, as is making sure all unrelated-but-important-in-their-own-right tasks are completed before said time. Like, say, feeding the children.

 

This morning we failed spectacularly to accomplish all these things before a lake outing. So we went hiking on the Appalachian Trail instead... much too late in the day, and much too unprepared, but we went, by golly, we got out of the house and we did something. Thomas rode in our backpack carrier for the first time, and John proudly carried his own little pack. Because it was the baby's first hike, we only went out about twenty minutes, sat down for a rest and had a drink and a snack (Thomas got his sippy and some Cheerios while still perched in the pack), and turned around.

 

At supper John told his father about the expedition. "We went about a hunred miyls, I tink," he said, "but I not kite sure."