Beat the Clock

Every day, I look at my children and realize how fast they're growing up. I can clean, cook, and wash clothes at night or tomorrow; today we will have fun.
Sue Slaughter
Trenton, Florida

On Saturdays I wake up before the sun rises so I can get my chores done by 10 a.m. Then I head out to enjoy the beach, the park, or the New York City streets.
Ivy Pittman
Montclair, New Jersey

I take full advantage of summer mornings to share one-on-one time with my children. I wake one of them up early, and we go for a bike ride, take a walk, or have a picnic breakfast out in the yard. This allows us to catch up with each other before I go to work and makes each of them feel special.
Nicole Verspyck
Meredith, New Hampshire

I take off my watch. I'm a high school teacher, and the academic year revolves around bells, meetings, deadlines, and the endless correcting of English papers. As soon as my seniors walk across the stage and accept their diplomas, I remove my watch for the summer. The pace slows, I head for the garden, and the sun becomes my timekeeper.
Jane Kepple Johnson
Albert Lea, Minnesota

Get Out

At the beginning of the summer, my family and I design our own weekly "Adventure Club." We write down all the places we'd like to visit and mark them on the calendar. Then we take pictures and make a scrapbook of terrific summer memories.
Sheri Berger
St. Louis, Missouri

We have a summer rule: One night a week, I stop at the deli after work and stock up on salads and snacks, and we head to the beach with a boom box, a Frisbee, a blanket, and some candles. Watching the sun set clears my mind and spirit after a long day at work, and squeezing some quality beach time into weekday evenings means I don't have to deal with the weekend crowds.
Deirdre LaPlant
Middle Village, New York

My 14-year-old son enjoys community service, and over the past few years he has found an endless range of volunteer opportunities for us to pursue together. We join local walks and runs to raise money for everything from our neighborhood zoo to medical research. We also volunteer at our city's annual food festival and various church functions. Not only do we spend time outdoors, staying active and having fun, but we also help our community.
Dorothy Andriole
Clayton, Missouri

Every summer, I make time for a weekend trip with my girlfriends from college. We've all moved to different cities, so it gives us a chance to see one another. I love how our friendships have changed over the years — we've been single girls, then wives, and now mothers. As we've grown as individuals, our friendships have grown, too.
Rebecca Saddler
Cabot, Arkansas

To save time and money on a hot summer day, I throw a beach party in the backyard. I set up the lawn chairs, fill the wading pool with water, and toss in the blow-up beach ball. Then I put on some lively music, and my two sons (ages six and seven) have fun playing lawn darts and Frisbee. Meanwhile, I pour fruit smoothies into plastic margarita glasses, complete with little paper umbrellas. It's a great way to make the kids feel special right at home.
Glenda Buelow
Mirror, Alberta