As we begin August (the last month of summer!) some of us are already counting the days until the next school year begins! If you're longing for a little bit of summer sanity, it's not too late to put some of these strategies into action:
Sanity Saver #1: Take care of mom
What are you doing to keep your emotional fuel tank refueled?
If you don't work outside the home, your school-age kids are now with you 24/7. Create a moms night out once a week with a friend, or trade "days off" with another mom whose kids are close in age to your kids.
If you are working full-time, it takes a lot more effort in the summer to make sure the kids are cared for and getting to their summer activities. Make sure you're taking care of yourself in order to really be able to take care of your family.
Sanity Saver #2: Create a routine
It's hard to go from the tight routine of school to absolutely no routine in the summer. While it's important to not schedule every minute, a loose routine can give structure to summer days. Maybe Monday is swimming day, Tuesday library day, Wednesday friend day, Thursday house and laundry day, and Friday free day. A schedule can guide planning and give some sense of security to our kids.
Sanity Saver #3: Set boundaries
Kids are more likely to stay within boundaries if they actually know what those boundaries are. How much television is ok? How long on video games? Simply requiring the kids to use the kitchen timer to self-monitor their video games or computer time can be helpful. If they forget to the set the timer, they lose the video games/computer time for the rest of the day.
Sanity Saver #4: Give opportunities
Summer is a great time for kids to learn new skills like cooking, gardening, or laundry. Take the time to teach them how to do a new skill and then give them ample opportunity to practice. If you have junior high or high school age children, they can be in charge of one meal a week. Grade-schoolers can learn to do laundry and be in charge of a couple of loads a week. This gives kids ownership and a sense of pride about contributing to the family. It also teaches them lifelong skills.
Summer is a great time for family, but it can wear on the sanity of even the best of us. Put some sanity savers into your strategy, and you'll find yourself enjoying this season even more (and not wishing it away)!
(taken from a Hearts at Home monthly email. Sign up here.)
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