Summer break can be daunting. There’s internal pressure to soak up the family time and create memories, and external pressure to keep the kids happy and entertained. Don’t get me started on the highlight reel of social media – no one posts their laid-back-at-home days, so it feels like every other family is adventuring constantly. Our culture has shifted to over-the-top everything, from large, blown out birthday parties to jam-packed summer schedules full of fun. To combat the pressure, I am intentionally, loudly declaring we are having a 90’s summer to anyone who will listen.
Endless otter pops, movie nights with friends, blowing bubbles, playing with the hose in the backyard, visiting the local pool, picnicking in the park, drawing with chalk, throwing frisbees, feeding the ducks at discovery, reading books, riding bikes, and playing board games are all on our list. Homemade waffles and chocolate chip cookies just because. A special late night to lay in the backyard and watch a meteor shower is penciled-in my planner (August 12-13 if you want to plan ahead, too). Occasional, spontaneous trips to Seemore’s or Death Valley Marketplace for ice cream will happen.
We’ll putter in the garden, spend time coloring together, and eat pb&j’s on the porch – preferably wrapped in paper towels to skip the dishes. I’ll try to convince myself that giving the kiddos fruit popsicles for breakfast is practically the same as serving smoothies. We’ll make a blanket fort and declare it a “pajamas and reading day” the first time the temperature is over a hundred and five degrees. The reading day will likely turn into a movie day when my throat starts to hurt from reading princess books aloud for two hours, and that’s ok, too.
There are so many things my kids love and look forward to that can be found right here at home.
Picture 1: Our outdoor set-up for summer supplies: gardening stuff, bubbles, monster trucks, chalk, frisbees/planes; this is the only prep I do for summer besides getting their next-size swimsuits
Disclaimer/Reality Check: Everyone has different tastes, and if extreme planning and over-the-top everything brings you joy, then go for it! If not, here’s your written permission to slow down. The best thing you can give your kids this summer is a happy, relaxed mama. This column will be about motherhood, parenting, and homemaking for the most part. It might about the importance of play for learning or why eating mainly from scratch isn’t as daunting as it seems. Most importantly, I don’t ever want this column to make another mama think she’s not doing enough. If you’re reading this, I want you to know that you are, you’re doing great, keep it up. Sing it with me: no-one is doing it allllll!
