Summertime. Sweet or not so much?

How’s the summer going so far?

If you’re anything like me, you have fond recollections of being a kid in the summer. Long days at home just doing nothing; long days at the pool, beach, lake, mountains or other vacation spot; fun vacations; camp; camping, etc.

So, when I started having kids, I looked forward to summer. To the long days, and the vacations and just doing nothing. 

But when I had little kids, those long days were TIRING. And those vacations were downright EXHAUSTING. And doing nothing felt like the kiss of death.

My little kids wanted activity. And structure. And more activity. They needed sunscreen. And swim diapers. And a hat. And water…

And so, while I was busy making their summer fun, there was a disconnect between how I thought summer was going to feel for me, and how it actually felt.

Does this happen to you? Do you look forward to that “summer feeling” only to find that it’s not working out the way you thought? Is there a bit of a mismatch?

If there is, there’s no need to worry. It just means you’re a parent of a little kid.

So, first - breathe and acknowledge the feeling. Just let it be there. Don’t try to fight it just yet. Notice the disconnect. Notice the mismatch.

Then, figure out what you want to do about it. For me, giving myself that “summer feeling” meant joining a pool and going regularly, with my children. For a friend of mine, it meant continuing to work full-time, keeping her child in daycare and making sure she went out with friends regularly.

What is it for you? How do you get into that “summer feeling?” How will you take care of yourself and give yourself a break this summer? I’d love to hear.

All my best -

Gabriele