As a stay-home mom to four wild boys, I am in a constant battle of "needing" to strike items off of my obnoxious to-do list and wanting to be the fun mom who throws that list right out the window and dives into fun nonsense with her family. Most days, while the laundry is piling up before my eyes and the dust is showing itself so much that my son can write his name in it (true story), I try to do the best I can at giving the love and attention they need while also marking those items off my list. But some days call for fun and what better day to throw that dang list away than the last day of school.

This year, as my two youngest napped and my two oldest headed home from their glorious last day of 1st and 4th grade, I prepared water guns for them and for myself. Leaving a note on the front door with their water guns, I advised them to get ready as I was waiting for them...and boy, was I! I could hear their giggles and confusion as they searched for me while I hid behind a tree. All of a sudden, we were in a full on water gun war and we enjoyed every second. We ran, we laughed, we squealed and we totally let go for one afternoon. It was the perfect way to welcome summer vacation and an awesome tradition to begin with my boys.

So I say this...take the time to throw out the list. To be silly. To make them laugh. To act a fool. To run around the yard with water guns squealing like you are a kid again. To make memories that will last a lifetime. They don't need big trips or expensive gifts to provide them with a wonderful memory of their childhood. They need you. The list can wait.