For
some of you summer is already in full swing – for others (like me) we are still
waiting for that last school bell to ring.
Summer can either bring a smile to your face as a busy mom, or can send
you into a panic! I know, I’ve been
there, wondering what I will do with the kiddos the entire summer and still
keep my sanity.
There
are some time tested tips that can help keep your summer full of fun and
relaxation instead of filled with stress and frustration.
Take Care of Yourself
This
is a must – not an option!
Seriously! When you are “on” all
day, it is exhausting. What activities
refresh you? Do you need downtime alone
or time with friends? Intentionally plan
those into your daily and /or weekly schedule.
Do not wait until you are so stressed out that you blow your top – no
one wants to remember the summer where mom was always a crab – take initiative
to give yourself what you need.
Make
sure you are taking care of yourself so you are best able to care for your
family.
Create Routines
Most
everyone knows things run much smoother when you have routines set in
place. Everyone knows the expectation
and things just flow a little easier.
When you can create a flow to your day it helps your children stay
focused, know what their role is and it certainly deflates stressful
situations. Creating a Summer
Morning Routine is one way to get the day off to a great
start! So often you can find the day
slip by if you do not have a routine set in place to get everyone organized for
the day. You can take this further by
creating a simple evening routine as well.
Down Time
Having
time everyday to allow not just you, but everyone to take a break is
critical. With the heat and busy
activities everyone can use a little time to shut their engines down and
re-group – most especially mom! Whether
that is a traditional Nap
Time or just a time for
everyone to do their own quiet activity, schedule this into your day. I have found everyone seems to get through
the evening with a much better attitude – especially me.
Resist Over Scheduling
It
can be very easy to go overboard in the summer with activities, classes and
camps. Resist over scheduling your days
and making it nearly impossible for plain old imaginative play to develop in
your children. When I grew up, there was
a lot more just “playing” outside and running through the sprinkler than
planned activities. You can have a great
combination of both scheduled fun AND free play time. In my Summer
Survival Calendar I’ve purposefully
kept activities to shorter blocks of time in order to still accommodate kids
just bring kids during the summer. Your
kids can look forward to an interesting activity but also know they will have time
to play on their own. Remembering that
summer vacation is just that…..vacation.
I know that when I am on vacation, I enjoy just hanging out and going
with the flow – allow time in your day to encourage that.
Lower Your Expectations
Seems
the opposite of what a mom should be doing, but seriously – this will help save
a lot of grief and stress. Frustration
comes when expectations are not met with reality. So adjusting your expectations to meet the
reality of the situation will get you ten steps ahead.
Realize
that there will be more messes – the kids are home all day! Expect that your kids will get on each
other’s nerves – have a plan in place to deal with it instead of allowing it to
catch you off guard. Know that boredom
and whining will eventually emerge – kids are kids, unfortunately this reality
will probably never change. Again, have
a plan in place to counteract these situations.
Make Memories
Most importantly, enjoy your summer! Remember to take pictures of the boring, at
home times as well as the exciting times.
Try keeping a memory book where you and your kids can share their
favorite activities and funny stories.
You think you will remember these – but more often than not, they are
forgotten. Take a lot of pictures and
make a fun collage at the end of summer and place it somewhere in your home
where everyone will see it. This will
keep the fun of summer around all during the year!
About Susan Heid:
Susan Heid is the mom behind The Confident Mom
where she loves inspiring Christian moms to make small changes managing their
home and family life giving them more time, less stress and stronger family
relationships! She enthusiastically wears the hat of mom, step-mom and foster
mom to 4 awesome kids – ages 19, 15, 11 and 2; is married to her very own
prince charming, loves coffee, cloudy days, and does think the bluest skies
you’ve ever seen are in Seattle.
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