The busy mom's guide :: Summer Break edition
It's that time again. Pre-summer. I've officially hit that in-between phase of being ready for school to be over and not being ready for school to be over.
If you're a mom, you get it.
The end of the school year can be hectic, chaotic and down right stressful. School programs, end of year parties, activities, {add in sports and I don't know if I'm coming or going half the time}.
My youngest is now to the age of playing sports, so life has become extra chaotic at our house. At the same time however, I am not sure I'm ready to have both kids at home all day every day... fighting. Oh, the fighting.
My kids are 4 years apart (not that it makes a difference I have been told) so there are a lot of things that my oldest can do that my youngest can not, and vice versa, so it's rough. My youngest is able to do the "5 and under" things and my oldest is old enough to have a little more freedom outdoors with friends, so it's a constant battle of them not understanding why one gets to do something and the other does not.
THE BEST LIST: 100 Things to do this Summer in Indianapolis, thanks to Indy Parks and Recreation
I learned last year that I needed some sort of plan going into summer. Something that would make me feel like I had a little more control over the chaos (ha) and still keep some structure and schedule for us all. My biggest tip for moms going into summer is to plan out your week on Sunday. I start by looking at the weather forecast and planning any outdoor activities or outings on the nice days and fill it in in between. I use a Happy Planner to schedule my life out, but you could even jot it down on a piece of paper. I also do my meal planning this way for the week as well, so I'm not having to make multiple trips to the grocery store with BOTH kids in tow. I personally don't share my detailed daily plan with the kids until the day-of, because, well, kids. If something comes up and plans have to change it will avoid a meltdown that way.
Here are a few more of my top tips for a less chaotic summer:
Kroger Click List or any grocery delivery service: This one is a lifesaver and well worth the fee. I use Kroger Click List, and you can also download digital coupons and they often have special coupons for Click List customers only, so a lot of times I end up saving enough to cover that extra fee. Taking kids into the grocery store is pretty much my hell-on-earth, so I avoid it at ALL costs.
Dollar store outdoor/sand toys: I go to the Dollar Tree at the beginning of summer and stock up on the outdoor toys. My kids are rough on their outdoor toys and they end up getting left outside, run over by a lawn mower or broken by the neighbor kids, so I am not as upset when we have to replace that $1 item. We obviously have other outdoor toys as well, but for the basic items, the dollar store is the way to go.
Set expectations for your kids:This one seems pretty simple. If your kids know that they are expected to read for 20 minutes every day, clean their room, whatever the list is for your kids before they can play, you're less likely to have as big of a battle. I set the chore list and expectations on the first day of break so there isn't a fight about it later.
Change their scenery: Kids get bored easily. I find that mine fight less when we change the scenery. We don't always spend a ton of money doing it either. You can go for a walk around the neighborhood, hit up one of the free parks in your area or even take turns hanging out at neighbor or friends' houses. {check out theCityMoms post of Things to Do in Indianapolis this Summer for ideas as well}
Have fun: I know, I know. Pretty simple. This one is the most important of them all and definitely the hardest one for me to grasp sometimes. At the end of the day, nothing else matters. The mess the kids left in the kitchen, the Legos all over the floor or the toys all over the backyard can all be picked up, but you have to allow yourself to relax and have fun while making fun summer memories with your kids.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Heather Frankford lives in Noblesville with her husband, 2 kids and 2 dogs. She is the owner and creator of Suburban Boy Mom, a lifestyle blog, and enjoys DIY projects and decorating her home. Heather is fueled by Starbucks coffee and enjoys bad reality tv when the kids go to bed.
