SUMMER SUMMERTIME

Written by: Mandy

WHOOHOO! SUMMER BREAK!

Okay, but did you feel my excitement? Let me say it again so you really hear me WHOOOOHOOOO!

YEAH, SUMMER BREAAAAK!!

There are pretty much only two options to feel about summer break and you either match my reaction or you immediately contemplated closing this issue to take a nap on the couch. I get it, mama. All of us made it through the school year with our kiddos. We survived car lines and spirit week. We attended concerts and poem recitals. We smiled through parent teacher conferences and celebrated graduations. Anyone else tired just from reading that? And now we made it to summer break!

As a former teacher, I still LIVE for summer break for two reasons.

For one, summer break provides just that: a BREAK.

This can look like whatever you need for that season. I've used this time to hunker down at home to create space for rest

Need something different from your average 9-5?

Yeah well, this is the time. Sleep in a little, nap when it’s time and there ain’t no mama in my circle that’s questioned my decision to enforce an earlier bedtime.

Using this break can welcome recovery and healing.

These tiny humans have just pushed themselves to the max with learning and growing; add in extra curricular activities and I bet you came out the other side of this school year a different kind of mama, too!

When I take the time to step back to see what my kids need, they tell me.

Not every summer needs to come with a calendar full of invites Turn off the alarm clocks, cultivate time in your day for quiet time and skip the chaos of waterparks.

The second, summer break makes room for FREEDOM.

I am all for consistency and schedules but summer means we get to skip the car lines, tuck the backpacks away and give those lunch boxes a rest. We get to trade uniform polos for swimsuits and the rush to beat traffic to having poolside popsicles for breakfast.

During these summers we ’ ve said “No ” This simple word is a complete sentence We use it more often so we can eliminate the chaos of busyness Saying no can sometimes feel like we are missing out on the next best thing but I’ve found it actually creates more opportunities

Drop the expectations of what this summer should look like and let loose.

Using this freedom can create space for curiosity.

I’ve used this time to allow my kids to lead with their strengths, try some things on their bucket lists and explore who they are becoming and want to be I’ve taken a step back to watch what they are truly telling me, trust me they always do

I have a feeling this summer is going to be a little mixture of both for our family With