I must admit that I would be on a steep incline as summer break approached. Although there would be no homework, bedtime, and normal school year struggles, I loathed the endless trips to the grocery store to spend the money that I didn’t have in my checking account or the constant in and out and back and forth inside of the house. I felt a mix of emotions including anxiety at the thought of keeping my kids busy without a scheduled routine. As a single mom, I wanted to make summer break special with a balance of relaxation and amazing adventures, but the truth was, I just couldn’t keep up with my own expectations. Eventually, I learned to be intentional about the summer months and checked my expectations of what I wanted to accomplish for my children.
Like parents, students also struggle with the lack of structure that the summer months bring. It is a well-known fact that our children are more successful with structure and appropriate boundaries as known expectations produce a sense of security; therefore, the unknowns of summer foster a heightened sense of insecurity for some of our kids. Daily activities that are second nature during the school year are less predictable in the summer months such as sleeping, eating and extracurricular activities. For me personally, I realized sooner rather than later that by keeping my stress in check, it diminished the anxiety of summer break, and my family began to thrive with purpose and excitement rather than dread. Here are some tips to help your family to thrive:
Re-evaluate your definition of “A perfect summer”
Every parent longs to plan the perfect summer getaway of lying on a beach while their children play in the sand and surf nearby, but the reality of funding a trip for 4 is very daunting these days. Truthfully, our children just want to spend time with us, so instead of shooting for the moon in a European country, plan for the stars with a movie night in the backyard or picnics at the local lake. Look into FB events that are often free of charge and kid friendly or take advantage of the offers of discount programs such as Groupon. If you have older children or teens, let them take turns in planning local getaways within your city or neighborhood. Not only will it give them something to focus on, but it will also provide them with a sense of pride that they have brought the family together.
Share parenting with a friend or relative
Before summer began, I would always reach out to the grandparents and get a schedule started for long weekends and summer activities in which they would go to visit. Since visiting is limited during the school year, these two months are great for family catching up with your young humans. It is very difficult to come up with the extra funds for additional daycare or day camp, so joining with family or friends who do not work is the ideal solution. Trading off responsibilities and co-babysitting with older children are essential for passing the long days of summer or even for older kids to earn extra funds.
Maintain a somewhat consistent routine
One thing that I was always adamant about was maintaining a consistent routine. For my family, this included a summer camp until a child initiated a summer job around 14. This intentional activity allowed for my children to maintain a similar sleep, eat and evening schedule. We also made time for library time in which summer reading was priority. By having a routine, it was easy to not overschedule activities in an attempt to fill the long days of summer and this allowed for the extras to be pre-planned in advance thereby decreasing all of our stress. Although the summer break is perfect for late nights and sleep in mornings, it is important to keep a routine similar to the school schedule to reduce the transition in August and back to school.
Give yourself a little extra love
Whether you work every day or are a stay-at-home parent, the summer months can be a struggle for many. This is why taking a little extra me time is extremely important. Between the extra money being spent and the adjustment to a new routine, we as parents need a self-time out for our emotional well being and mental stability. Prioritize small things for self-care such as stopping off for a well needed iced coffee or take the scenic route home or before child pick up. Seeing about self does not have to take up a lot of time or money but it is essential in filling your personal cup during the challenging schedule changes of summer. My kids still remember how we made time to walk around the lake and feed the ducks every day after summer camp and it became our special time that proved beneficial in reconnecting and improved our communication.
No matter your situation, remember, you’ve got this and remember this too shall pass. The days of grabbing an ice cream cone or sitting by the pool with more day of a hectic afternoon summer. Cherish, Embrace it…your kids will soon be over before you know it. Believe me, I would take one more day of a hectic afternoon summer. Cherish, Embrace it…