The Joy And The Challenge Of Summer With Kids
I’ve spoken to many mamas lately who are excited for summer and relief from lunch packing, driving carpools, homework, the endless driving from place to place and bedtime meltdowns…BUT….
The other side of the story shared is the dread, worry and anxiety about those same “non-routines” for the kids and the “what am I going to do with them for 3 month panics.” The concern about losing any thread of “me time” for a busy mom, the later bedtimes and easeful feeling of “kitchen being open for snacks during the lazy summer days.”
Yep. As parents, you likely feel both extremes….often and… in intervals of time. Then, the resulting guilt, shame and feeling bad being “THAT parent” who isn’t grateful enough for their kids and their life.
What has been helpful to share with the parents I work with is a little o’ tweak in their perspective that surprisingly, their kids feel this too!
Often sensitive kids are also very creative people and though routine is helpful, there can often be pushback or a desire to rebel against too much rigidity. Small tweaks in this area can make a huge difference in finding the “good, better, best” for your unique family. (This is why I integrate a branch of healing in my practice that I call “family rhythm and organization.” Yes, it really is that important to parenting challenging, but gifted kids).
A healthy balance of freedom, rhythm, choice, specific plans with built in “life happening backups,” is possible!
Working with a client recently, we used the “misery” from her past summer to tweak the family rhythm for this one. Her kids enjoyed the “not going to school or have homework part” BUT, they missed seeing friends, and were “bored.” Mom and Dad were working and didn’t want the kids to have the “no plan” and play video games as entertainment all day.
So we worked together to ensure the kids had a mix of both: free time and planned time, and set up new routines that would allow the parents to work and feel peace of mind about their family summer.
For example, one thing she’s implementing is ” a sleepover trade” with another family. They are switching off taking the kids one day a week. The kids are thrilled with more play time with friends instead of a “babysitter.” This allows more breathing room for a longer work day and also a ladies night with the girls some weeks and date night with the hubby on others. Three wins in one!
This plus a few other simple strategies and they are all excited to have addressed what each person wants to have included in the summer and enjoy family time too!
It’s not too late to make some tweaks just in time for your summer break!
Helping to develop a rhythm that works can take some experimentation yet when working with a perspective aimed at win-win and fun with family, the effort reaps great rewards with more free time for family fun!
If these feelings are familiar for you as end of school approaches and with the short notice, you can’t make it to this talk but want to talk more, you are welcome to book a time to talk about how I can help.
Stay tuned for additional free talks this summer and if you are on FB, I may even add in a couple of free FB Lives to fit into the summer shuffle as parents.
Love and Full Moon Blessings,
Wendy
If a new rhythm (or even thinking about it is daunting), consider coming to join us at The Bridge Between the Worlds for my free talk
Other private home venues have been scheduled ask about a spot that works for you….
Want me to come speak to a group of parents you know? I have this great free talk and am available to come speak to your friends (at a home for a Ladies Night, Moms Group or Pool or Fireside Chat) or at your business, office, school or organization. Please contact me here
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