Summer Survival Guide
It’s June. School has been out for a minute and the kids are already, “So totally bored.” You realize the summertime excitement has faded, and then you discover it’s only been officially summer for about a week. What’s a mom to do, short of boarding a plane to somewhere tropical and sipping those fruity little drinks? The answer? Get a guide. Specifically, a summer survival guide!
““And At The end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair messy, and your eyes sparkling.””
Oh summertime. For me it has always been a time of excitement, adventure, and endless possibilities. Maybe it’s the dreamer in me, but it has always felt like a fresh start where anything could happen. Growing up in west Texas, summertime held the promise of warm nights by the pool, Pat Green street dances with friends, and Dr. Pepper Open Tennis Tournaments in the Hill Country.
Even as a child, I remember that there was always something about the magic of summer. Pool days with my cousins that were accompanied by Sonic burgers and coke floats. Pool days with my mom at the country club. She always let me get chicken strips at the pool and that was the coolest! Day camps that were supposed to be for tennis. But turned into tennis, the pool, and challenging the boys (Ick. They definitely had cooties back then.) to silly string fights while driving golf carts down the dirt roads behind the club. (The campers weren’t driving because we were eight, but it still felt so cool getting to ride along.)
There is just something about summertime that feels magical. It’s something that has stayed with me to this day. Of course today, summertime looks much different. Today it consists of me being the memory creator. Honestly, getting to be that for my kids is what keeps me out of the parent summertime funk. It would be so easy to wake up and focus on the lack of school and personal time I get for myself. If we are being really honest, and you know I am, I definitely had those moments at the end of May where I thought, “What am I going to do this summer with no school!”
Me being me, and in my ever planning and organizing nature, (I legitimately pulled everything out of my pantry this weekend. Then I cleaned out old stuff, organized sections, and made my pantry look visually pleasing. Down to placing items in clear bins one by one so they looked magazine worthy. Y’all, it makes me so happy!) I made a Summer Schedule. It has been so helpful because it has aided in keeping some routine to summer. Lack of routine and the free for all it can turn into is stressful. (At least for me.) You get bored, the kids get bored, and then attitudes flare up. (Bye-Bye happy feelings of summertime magic. Hello feelings of summertime doom.) We haven’t been completely faithful to the schedule because we have traveled and have had family in town. Plus, I am not about to turn down a playdate that gets us out of the house. So let me rephrase, I created a summer schedule that helps us not sit around the house and waste away in front of the TV. (And hopefully helps foster some of that summer magic I keep talking about in my own kids.) I don’t know how it is in your house, but too much TV in mine creates the toddler monster. To clarify, a scary toddler whose mind has actually rotted from the TV.
Creating a summer schedule doesn’t have to be a monumental thing or something that earns you the greatest mom award. It can be as simple or complex as works for your family. Here is mine:
This schedule is not set in stone. It is simply a guide to help navigate each day to keep it from becoming mundane. As previously stated, I’m certainly not going to shy away from a playdate or a fun opportunity that pops up.
Our schedule starts with breakfast at the coffee table while my toddler watches his morning toons. (A.K.A. Nick Jr. or Disney Jr.) I am not a morning person, and I need my coffee to kick in before I can hit the ground running. Yes, we start with an hour (two shows) of TV. This hour is crucial for me to have coffee, make breakfast, get everyone’s clothes on, and do whatever needs to be done to get us out the door. For those who can’t believe we start the day with TV, you've never met my strong-willed child. (He’s going to move mountains one day.) You have to pick your battles. This hour is necessary and it keeps me from wanting to sell the kids to the circus before 10 AM. (I kid. I kid. It would be the zoo.)
The next order of business is the park. Any other time of day would be too hot to play outside in this great state of Texas. Kids need to stretch their legs and get their energy out. It’s also beneficial for everyone to get out of the house at least once a day to prevent yourself from going stir crazy. This is also the time we run crucial errands for the day if need be.
My tiniest human wont sleep anywhere but his crip. (He obviously didn’t get the second child memo.) Therefore, we are always home for his naps. While the baby sleeps, Hunter grabs a snack and we have education time. I wasn’t sure how this would go, but he seems to really love it. He even reminds me when we forget on the weekends. I use his folder from school and fill it with 2-3 pages from the Big Preschool Workbook as well as a manipulative activity each day. (We also love the Kiwi Box.) Somedays this is just a craft time. The goal here is to find an engaging activity that’s more than just playtime or watching another episode of TV.
We follow education time with another chance for the toddler to move his body. I love it because it’s also a great way for me to get my heart rate up. (When your toddler requests Shake It Off by Taylor Swift every dance party and requires you to shake and twist around your kitchen quickly, it definitely counts as cardio.) Toddler yoga is also one of the cutest things you will witness. My child experienced this when the fam went to Great Wolf Lodge a while back. We use the child friendly moves we learned there to move and stretch. This entire block only lasts ten to twenty minutes, but you would be surprised how beneficial it is, even as a parent, to take a break and move your body.
At this point, the baby is awake and everyone sits down for lunch (sort of). In a perfect world, we would eat and then follow each lunch time with a choice activity before heading up to the playroom. In reality, the baby takes a legit half hour to eat and is very distracted by a toddler who chooses this time to show me his super hero speed. By the time I have fed the baby, and convinced the toddler to take enough bites of food that he won’t waste away, we are usually ready to head upstairs to the playroom. That, or mom needs to get out of the house. Those days we go to Trader Joes. Here’s why. It’s only a three minute drive from where we live. They have child shopping carts for them to push. There is AC. You can also bribe your child to have a good attitude while you are there thanks to the treasure box. Oh yes, at this point of the day, I am so not above telling my child he can choose a sucker if he obeys and has a good attitude. I call that a mom win.
Now comes the most glorious part of the day. The Double Naptime. In my house, naptime is non-negotiable. I love my children dearly, but I need this time to recharge and get things done. We went through a period where my child declared he no longer needed naps. Honestly, there was a point where I thought naptime might be over for us. But I stayed strong and I stayed consistent. I would always tell Hunter that 1. Mommy needs her nap because she is very tired. 2. You don’t have to nap, but you do have to have quiet time in your room. (He was also allowed to play with any toy that wasn’t loud or stimulating the days he thought he wouldn’t nap. Spoiler alert. My child is a napper. He always naps.) Now naptime is just routine and mom rejoices in her sanity hour!
After naptime, it’s a free for all in the count down to dinner. Most days the boys play with toys in the living room while I make dinner. On the really hard days, Hunter is allowed to watch another episode of TV. Sometimes we order in and will play outside until the food arrives. Once dinner is over bed time routine starts, and we rejoice that we have survived another day!
This is the schedule that works for us. Find what works for you and then stick to it. Everyone benefits from some form of summer routine. Don’t get discouraged by days you park it in front of the TV and only move to grab food. Everyone. Has. Survival. Days. Really I could just say that everyone parents. Hang in there mommas and have a great summer. Oh, and I definitely recommend making at least one fruity little drink this summer. Even if it’s in your own backyard once the kids are in bed. You can always stick your toes in the sandbox and play ocean waves on your phone. All thats left is to close your eyes and you are basically on a beach vacation. {Side Note: When we need a getaway but can’t take an actual vacation, we love to go to Tommy Bahamas for a date night. We grab a seat at the bar, order a Mai Tai, and enjoy the music. It’s all about the beach vibe.}
Here are some other ideas to add to your summer schedule. (Or summer checklist if that’s more your thing.)
General: Picnics at parks, museums, movie matinees, H-E-B Field Trip, PetSmart Field Trip, ice cream dates, pizza place (Somewhere where the kids can eat and then play games.), the zoo, an escape room, splash pads, community pool, story time at a library, a tour at a fire station, day camps, crafts, or a board game. (Engaging quality time is always fun for the kids!)
For my Woodlands Locals: Play Street Museum, Trolly Ride, Kanga’s Playcenter, Black Walnut Cafe/Airplane Hanger, Splash Pad and games at Market Street, Safari Stop at the Methodist Church, The Indoor Playground at The Woodlands Church, Renting a Paddle Board, Swan Boat or Kayak, Bowlero, Little Beakers (Science Academy Ages 3+), IGi Playground, Pump It UP, The Maze at Town Green (best for ages 2-8), or an art walk along the Waterway (Take pictures on a bench sculpture or play a bench xylophone).