Summer is here, the kids are out of school and it should be
all fun, right? But what I’m feeling,
and have heard from a lot of moms lately is that summer has been anything but
fun. Don’t get me wrong, taking trips
and the “freedom” summer brings is great.
But there is more to it. It takes
a lot of work. Summer planning starts in
March for some of us. Planning which
camp the kids will go to over the summer, that summer vacation to get away from
it all, and looking forward to not having to worry about homework or after
school activities. We often place our
happiness in the future, and expect all this planning to create a wonderful,
stress free summer. Then summer arrives
and we are still stressed out. What’s up
with that? We have set the expectations
high, and are often disappointed with our reality. We miss what is going on around us now, in
search of that “perfect” summer. Here
are 3 tips that have helped me slow down and enjoy the summer around you now.
Don’t
over plan. My kids love to be busy
in the summer. I often hear, “Mom, where
are we going today?” followed up by, “Who are we going with?” In the never-ending need to keep my kids busy
and fulfilled over the summer I would plan and pack in as much as possible. However, this often backfired in the way of
over-tired, over-stimulated, cranky kids.
Not to mention one stressed out mom who needs a drink at the end of the
day. So, to take the stress out of days
like these I would only plan a few outings per week, and only for a part of the
day. Depending on the age of your kids,
you know their limits. Respect that; it
will pay off for you in the end. Also
know that it’s ok to say no. We often
fear letting others down, or missing out on something fun. But respect yourself, and your kids, stress
levels and know when to say no. Better
yet, create a schedule. This will help
you see what you have already committed to.
Also make sure you schedule in some “down” or “quite” time.
Embrace
one day at a time. Today is the only
day that matters. What happens today
happens. Embrace it and enjoy it because
it will be gone tomorrow, never to return again. All the planning you have done goes to waste
if you don’t take the time to sit back and enjoy the moment as it is
happening. When we plan and plan things
we often place feelings and emotions on a future event. When things don’t go as plan we feel hurt,
angry, or sad. If we don’t place those
emotion in the future, and allow what happens to happen we may be much
happier. If something goes wrong
throughout the day ask yourself, “Does this really matter in the grand scheme
of things?” Chances are the blip along
the way is just that – a blip – and will only ruin your day if you let it. Often times the blips will be remembered fondly
in the future as great stories.
Make time
for yourself. As a busy mom trying
to pull it all together we need to remember to take time for ourselves to
recharge. This might mean quiet time to
read a good book, date night, a girls night out with friends, or a night in to
watch a movie after the kids are in bed.
Go for a walk after dinner and enjoy the quiet around you – listen to
the sounds and enjoy it.
Reflect on what you have done this summer, and be thankful for the
memories you have made. So what if
things don’t go as planned? Enjoy what
you have and what is going on around you in this moment!
So when the school year is underway, and you long for those
days of summer, don’t forget to enjoy the present moment – that is what really
matters!
