Summertime is an awesome time of year – school is out and the kids are ready for fun, but it also can be a time of summertime overwhelm as parents plates start to be filled. Between camps, vacations, summer time learning, playdates, keeping the kids busy, etc… there is more than enough to send any parent into overwhelm. In a way, parents tend to buy into the mindset that summer=overwhelm and it is just a part of life. However, it does not have to be that way
These four tips will help you see that you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and just enjoy your summer.
You cannot do it all
No one is doing it all. Even the parents that seem to have everything together are not doing it all. It is impossible. When you attempt to do it all, you will end up overwhelmed and frustrated. A good practice is before you say yes to things, give yourself a day or two to think about it. Then… say yes to the things that really matter: spending time with your family.
Keep it fun.
Whether it is dinners or plans, keep it simple and fun. Now may not be the time to try out all the new recipes. Stick to the basics and the easiest. During busy seasons, I like to simplify every other aspect of life to help balance things out. We like to go to my in-laws on Sundays for a simple day on the lake or pool. Allie’s still learning to swim, so she grabs her PuddleJumper (she wears it happily!) and we head to the pool. It’s great for a boat ride, too.
Let go of comparing.
Pinterest has birthed some of the most elaborate teacher gifts of all time. It can be tempting to compare and contrast as you carry in your gift card next to the themed beach gift. However, let it go as our friend Elsa would say. We always want to encourage our kids to be themselves, so this is a great reminder of practicing the same thing. Let the kids jump in the lake, play hide & seek and have fun! Don’t worry about trying to make every moment memorable… because sometimes the most memorable moments are those simple ones where you are just playing cars or princesses on the living room floor or drawing with chalk on your driveway.
Find time to rest.
As busy parents, we need to start carving out time to rest. If you look back on your last week and see only a lot of work, it is time to rest. Choose a time where you will intentionally rest and do exactly that! Sit in the sunshine, go for a walk, read a book. Do what is restful to you! For our family, eating on the back porch is like a little break from the business of life.
We all pick a spot, carry our plate & cup out and enjoy the next 30 minutes talking and eating.
While these four tips are not the magical answer to preventing mom and dad overwhelm, they will help reduce the chances. Let’s take summer back to being a time of fun and laughter and let go of the busy lifestyle that has taken over our lives. Here’s to a simple summer of swimming in the lake, lying by the pool and playing make-believe on a Saturday afternoon…
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