The Summer Goals That Led to Our Favorite Family Tradition

One of my favorite parts of parenting is watching my kids realize they can do something they once thought they couldn’t.

This summer, we gave each of them one or two big goals to work toward. Not because we wanted to fill every day with checklists, but because we wanted them to experience the pride that comes from learning something new and seeing what they're capable of.

Our reward?

A family trip back to the Bahamas.

We had already planned to go. Living in South Florida, it’s only about a 45-minute flight, and after taking the kids before, they still talk about the beaches, the pools, the turtles and sharks, and every little adventure. We knew it would be the perfect thing for them to look forward to all summer.

My daughter, who’s four, had two goals: learn to write her name and swim across the shorter side of the pool by herself.

My son, who’s six and has fallen in love with the Magic Tree House series, wanted to read the first 28 books and learn to tie his shoes.

None of these goals were about perfection. They were about giving them something exciting to chase.

I’m a huge believer in letting kids be kids.

Summer shouldn’t feel like school at home. Childhood deserves lazy mornings, lots of outdoor play time, messy afternoons, and days where nothing on the calendar matters. And our summer has been full of those moments too.

I absolutely love my summer childhood memories and have been trying to create the same for my kids.

Hot afternoons spent at the library.

Pool parties with neighborhood friends.

Bike rides after dinner.

Building forts with every pillow and blanket in the house.

Roasting marshmallows and eating s’mores in the evenings after a long day of playing outside.

Movie nights in sleeping bags with popcorn and fun snacks.

Those moments matter just as much as the milestones.

But I also believe children build confidence by discovering what they’re capable of.

The first time they finish a chapter book on their own. The first time they swim across the pool without anyone holding them. The first time they tie their shoes without asking for help. Watching my kids reach these milestones has been one of my favorite parts of the summer. There's something so special about seeing the excitement on their faces when they finally do the thing they've been working toward.

Confidence isn’t something we can give our children simply by telling them they’re amazing. It grows when they experience the satisfaction of sticking with something long enough to realize, I can do this. Every new skill becomes evidence that they’re capable of learning, growing, and overcoming challenges they once thought were impossible.

That’s why I think childhood needs both kinds of memories. It needs the carefree afternoons spent building forts, riding bikes until the sun goes down, and reading books at the library just because there’s nowhere else to be. But it also benefits from having a few meaningful goals along the way, goals that aren’t about pressure or achievement for achievement’s sake, but about giving children the opportunity to surprise themselves.

As we get ready for another trip to the Bahamas, I’m excited about the beaches, the pools, and the family memories we’ll make together. But I’m just as grateful for everything that happened before we ever board the plane. This summer wasn’t simply about reaching a destination. It was about watching two little kids discover that they were capable of more than they realized, and I have a feeling that lesson will stay with them long after the vacation is over.

I'm proud to say my daughter is now swimming across the pool on her own and happily writing her name by herself. My son is just a few books away from finishing all 28 Magic Tree House books he set out to read this summer, and he's now tying his own shoes too. We'll celebrate all of it together in a few weeks, but I think the greatest gift wasn't the trip we planned. It was watching them discover what they're capable of.

💌

Jenn from The Mom Society™