Jamie Guffie
Your kids are living their best summer life, but what about you? Have you enjoyed making memories, or are you feeling stressed because of disrupted routines?
As caregivers, we often feel pressure to give our children endless opportunities to make fun memories, stay up late, swim, and have endless play dates with friends; however, we also feel obligated to keep them on a schedule, make them read and practice math facts daily, limit screen time, and give them chore lists to help around the house. As we move into the second half of summer, how can we create a sustainable balance of flexibility and routine?
Creating Flexible Structure
Summer looks completely different from the school year; however, we can still incorporate loose routines to create consistency. Our physical and mental wellbeing thrives on predictability and stability. Incorporating simple daily habits can provide a sense of grounding and balance to eliminate feelings of overwhelm and anxiousness.
— Establish a consistent bedtime. Sure, summer means the kids get to stay up late! Establishing a bedtime (later than during the school year) allows the kids to feel the freedom of summer while maintaining consistency and expectations. This also helps the transition back to earlier bedtimes for school easier!
—Set Healthy Boundaries. Know your limits. Although we want to say yes to every summer invitation, overcommitting leads to burnout and overwhelming emotions. It’s ok to decline an event if you know it will leave you feeling depleted. Choose the events that you can fully commit and engage in!
—Give yourself permission to slow down. Memories can be made in the slow moments. Don’t feel pressured to consistently fill your schedule or meet social media’s standards of a “fun-filled” summer. Choosing an inexpensive activity at home provides an opportunity for family connection without the hustle and bustle of social commitments.
Summer routines look different, and it is normal to experience emotional ups and downs. Setting daily guidelines are not meant to be rigid rules. Maintaining a flexible routine still allows for the spontaneity of summer while still feeling grounded.
If you’re a parent or caregiver struggling with navigating summer routines or consistent expectations in general, you don’t have to navigate these feelings alone. I would love to create a safe space to develop practical coping strategies to support you!
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