Summer Break - We're in this together

 

The smell of freshly cut grass and sunblock are tells that Summer is here to don us with her promises of brighter days. It also means that soon, your kid is going to be residing at your address 24/7. That's right. No more pencils. No more books. No more teacher's dirty looks. School's out for the Summer! 

Mom's everywhere are panicking, as they realize they'll be feeding their kids 3 meals a day for 90 days. 3 kids. 3 meals a day. 90 days. 810 meals. A grocery budget of $300/month. That means each kid gets allotted $1.11 per a meal/day. You got this mom! Who needs all the extras, like toilet paper. 

Along with the grocery budget, moms are planning their survival. They're digging out the sprinklers, left over bubbles, freezing Popsicles and making chore charts. Sanity. The only way you're going to survive is making your sanity top priority. You're going to run a tight ship this Summer. No time for bickering. Breakfast. Chores. Outside time. Book time. Lunch. 30 minutes of home school (because we all know about that Summer Slide). Reflection time. More chores. Supper. Shower. Bed. Boom. 

*Sun ray kissed photo*

Just kidding. It's not going to be anything like that. Chaos. Pure chaos is about to erupt in your domain. Good luck. You got this. Well, probably not. None of us do. But gosh darn, you're going to post that sun
ray kissed photo of your kid with their cute little Popsicle stained face running through their sprinkler, anyways. It's all lies. But don't worry. We got you. 

With the ending of another school year, don't be surprised if you find yourself staring at a stranger. If you're new to this, just a heads up. The child you sent to school last fall will not be the same child that returns to you. They are wiser, a few inches taller, maybe less teeth, and sorry to say it, but tainted by the world. Sometimes I stare at my son and I think "when did this happen?". I mean all of IT. His shoulders are broadening. He's loosing his baby cheeks. His thoughts are deeper and so are his worries. His attitude is stronger. The little, naive boy I sent into 2nd grade is returning to me a little more informed on the ways of the world. He has an understanding of social dynamics. He's seen cliques form and break apart. He notices the kids who come to school without their own water and their school folder unchecked for weeks. He notices the kid who can read better than him and the other kid who has a hard time making eye contact when he speaks to him. He notices when a kid doesn't want to be his partner because he's not the best artist. He understands what it feels like to hurt someone's feelings, sometimes unintentionally but also sometimes, premeditated. He's gotten a taste of wanting to fit in. He's experienced peer pressure. He's learned the hard way that giving in to peer pressure can have negative consequences. He's learned some curse words and hand gestures. He's come to realize school isn't just about socializing, he's expected to learn as well. He's understanding that not all families look like ours. He's lost friends who have moved. He's been exposed to Google and YouTube (because yes, some 2nd graders have cell phones). He's been exposed to the 6th graders at the back of the bus. He's also picked up on independence. "It's his life. Not mine. He's allowed to be right about his life." I'm telling you. Tainted. By the time they're leaving 2nd grade. They've seen and heard some things. They're growing up way too fast.

We spend our entire lives growing. Taller. Wiser. Wider. As parents, we have such an important role in setting the foundation for that growth. We only have these kids for such a short amount of time in the grand scheme of it all. So between the bickering, cleaning up the shoes and sopping towels off of the floor, grant yourself and your kids some grace. There's going to be yelling. You're going to have to throw out a mom glare when your kid says "I'm bored" for the 50th time that day. You will feel like you are about to 100% lose your mind. How can something you birthed be so darn obnoxious. I mean you were never that obnoxious as a child. But in the chaos of it all, allow time to grow together. Give them some space and a shoulder to heal from the realities they were exposed to this past year. Let them run through that sprinkler barefoot and eat 4 Popsicles for lunch (also a wise budgeting tip). Nurture their minds, by reinforcing what ever tools their teacher's worked so hard to instill into them. Read books together. Because for real though, that Summer Slide (Google it). Stay up late and catch lightening bugs. Let them dance around with sparklers. Give them a safe space where they can just simply be a kid. No social circles. No peer pressure. Just a kid and their mom enjoying Summer. Strengthen that bond so that they're prepared to face another year of growing older outside of your house. 

Then when you've done all of that, give them some chores. Because. Sanity, remember?

P.S check back with me at the end of Summer when I'm like...strengthen the bond? The only thing I'm strengthening at this point is my drink. 🍹

*Disclaimer: I am in no way, shape or form a professional child rearer. I just attempt my best to raise 3 of them while occasionally getting an Epiphany as I wash their cereal bowls.