In June it's all: It's Summer! Get out the bathing suits! Stay up later! Put the umbrella thingy in my cocktail and fill up the baby pool!
In July, it's all about the July 4th holiday! Let's celebrate the USA! Where's my red, white and blue tank top? Oh, no, we can't do a big Fireworks celebration, how about sparklers? What should we put on the 4th cookout menu? How should we celebrate this year?
And then, once the holiday weekend wraps up, the realization sets in ... there are a bunch more weeks of Summer and your kids are already driving you CRAZY. And THIS Summer, you don't even know if school is IN. It's okay, we know you are treasuring many special moments too, it's just without the usual routine of school (or life without Covid), our kids can get a little unpredictable. Sometimes we all take a turn with downright cranky.
What to do?
Take one, two or a whole heap of our ideas from our Parent Survival Guide we put together for you!
1. Ditch the guilt. Yes, mom guilt is real. It's also like worrying--it only makes you feel worse and it doesn't accomplish anything. Instead of bathing in feeling bad, ask yourself: What can I do today that will make me feel good the time spent with my kids? I can feel guilty when I have work to do from home and I can't play with my daughters all day. To skip the guilt, I plan a swim date with them that we all can look forward to toward the end of the day. Read this -> You Are a Good Mom!
2. Tag, you're it. We all have days when we are tired or stressed. If you're feeling that way, ask your spouse (or a friend) for a break. Kids love having all the attention of one parent, so if you can take turns, you get a breather with some adult time and plenty of parent time. Try it by taking turns with the bedtime routine.
3. Swap play dates with friends. Yes, it may be more work to let your kids invite friends over, but you can work out a swap with a friend so you can get a morning, afternoon or evening off and then they can. Makes your kids happy, makes you happy. It's easier to be a better mom when you get a break. Keep it safer with an outdoor play date.
4. Get out in nature. Immersing yourself in nature actually has calming effects according to science. Go on a nature exploration with your little one and enjoy being in the present moment.
5. Sync your calendar with your spouse. Each Sunday, review calendars together so you can plan your week seamlessly and avoid any surprises. When you know who is coming and going and when, you can use that time to plan in some time just for you.
6. Plan a date night. Imagine, a conversation uninterrupted. The quality of the relationship with your spouse sets the tone and energy in your home. Kids pick that up. Exude positive by investing in your relationship regularly.
7. Calling all grandparents. Whether they come over for a quick visit or an entire day, your parents can get coveted time with the grandkids and you can tackle that To Do List that's stressing you out. Or, you could just chill.
8. Go to a new place. Changing your environment can give you a fresh perspective. You don't have to spend a ton of time planning, just pick a new hiking trail or breakfast place.
9. Enroll in a last minute summer camp. You may think all summer camps are long gone by now, but plans change and many places have a few spots left each week. Enroll your child in a last minute camp for a day or a week.
10. Create a weekend staycation. Camp in your backyard or plan something that feels like vacation. Have a movie night and make an indoor picnic. Play flashlight tag and let your kids stay up later than normal.
11. Make plans with friends who have kids. Spending time with people who can relate usually results in laughter and a release of stress. Connect with friends at a group cookout where the kids can play together, or schedule a night just for the adults.
12. Go away for a weekend camping. Mix up your summer environment with a camping expedition.
13. Let the kiddos get bored. We all cringe when we hear the dreaded, "I'm bored," but it's actually good developmentally for your child. Boredom means your child can spend some time in the quiet hearing themselves. Boredom is also where imagination can come to life.
14. Play learning games in the car. Depending on your child's age, do a fun pop quiz in the car. Read 9 Family Road Trip Games for the Best Car Trip Ever.
15. Print out coloring pages. Coloring might sound so 101, but you can google virtually any child request for coloring pages. My daughter's last request? Print me a princess-riding-a-unicorn -in-a-circus. Yes, there was a coloring page for that!
17. Set some house rules. Sometimes kids go haywire in the summer because their school year schedule is gone. Put a little structure into your long summer days so your kids know what to expect next. Routine helps kids feel calm.
18. Make an appointment ... with yourself. Coffee, hike, pool, (hair appointment anyone?) ... do something just for you, so you can hear yourself too!
19. Do something you love ... every day. I love getting up before my daughters wake up to enjoy the quiet house and the birds chirping. I start each day reading a chapter of a book. Reading is so much better than looking at my phone first thing in the morning. Check your daily calendar. Are you doing something you love?
20. Water the garden and your kids. Who doesn't love to run through a sprinkler? Plus, it's good for the lawn, shrubs and flowers.
21. Go to the farmer's market together. Talk to your little ones about all the fresh produce and why it's good to eat all the colors of the rainbow. Head out to the WNC Farmer's Market and Get some peaches!
22. Fly a kite! Did you know they have great kites at O.P. Taylor's Toy Store in Biltmore Park Town Square?
23. Make Smores!
24. Have a pizza night. You don't have to get all crazy and make a dough from scratch. Pick up some dough, pizza sauce, pizza seasonings, veggies and cheese fixings and voila! Easy, breezy to make dinner for the whole fam. Your kids can do their own pizza.
25. Go back to school shopping early. Your kids will think it's a blast to select those new backpacks early and you will feel fab for getting it done ahead of schedule.
26. Spend virtual time at your local library. Asheville area libraries are hosting virtual events for FREE. Or, take one of those blanket forts your kids build and drop a suggestion that they turn it into a little library space. Add books and you're done. Spark the love of reading by making reading time FUN.
27. Star gaze. Yes, you'll have to stay up well past bedtime, but isn't bending the rules a little what summer is all about? Plus you can create a memory to treasure.
If you're kiddos are driving you a little crazy at times, guess what, you're normal. You can still proactively create your best summer yet--and retain your sanity!
Like this article? Share the ideas with your friends!
