Keeping Sane As A Mom Through Summer Break

Summer is well and truly here, and the days are long, warm, and filled with family time. However, it can also be a time of the year where families, especially ones with young children, can feel cranky and agitated by the warm weather and moms can feel the pressure. After all, summer not only brings good weather, but routines change, there is no school and also money can be tighter through extra expenses. So with that in mind, here are some of the ways you can stay sane during the summer break. 

Keeping the kids cool

The weather is warmer and some children struggle with the heat. So you may want to arm yourself with some hacks and ideas to help you keep the kids cool during the day. 

Keeping well stocked of icy treats

It is important to keep your children cool in the summer, and sometimes there is nothing better than an icy treat to keep them cool. You could try flavouring ice, that you have either crushed to make slushy, or making your own ice pops. You could buy a big stock of them on your next shopping trip or you could also choose to make your own from fruit and vegetable juice that you have made up yourself. A great way to get some extra goodness into your children without them even realising.  Even ice cream could be a welcomed treat in the garden when an icy treat is needed. 

Investing in a paddling pool or some form of water play

Maybe your children physically want to cool down, and there is nothing quite like water to help you do it. So I think investing in a decent paddling pool is one thing for summer that can give you and your children endless fun while keeping you cool in the summer heat. These days you can even pick up pools that have inflatable slides and other aspects to them to make them more interesting. Paddling pools can suit all ages, so you are bound to pick one up that will suit you and your family. You may also want to invest in something like a water table. It can provide hours of fun for children playing with boats and also transferring water from different sides. 

Keeping the kids occupied

When it comes to keeping children occupied when school is shut for summer, it can often send parents into a pit of dread of what they may do. SOAme parents need to work on the logistics of childcare, others will be lucky enough to have some time off or be at home with their children. Occupying them, however, may feel like an impossible task. The first week is always the easiest, the last week will certainly test the best amongst us, but it is possible to survive the summer and have some fun in the process. So I thought I would share five things you could do with your children to keep them occupied for summer break. 

Organising playdates in the garden

With your paddling pool and water table, and a good stock of icy treats, then you may want to consider organising a playdate. This can really take the pressure off occupying younger children if you plan on having friends over, and it can be a welcome break to you to have some adult conversation. A group of you can take turns to host as well, making it more fun and having a few dates to look forward to in the diary. 

Go on holiday together

One of the best ways to spend this time is to go on holiday somewhere. Exploring a new place or country is a lovely way to spend the summer break. You could spend time on the beach, enjoy the hotel pool, or walk around exploring new places and eating in lovely establishments. Children love the freeness of a holiday, staying up a little later, spending time with their parents and being outside more than the norm. It is a great way to pass a week or two. 

Explore your hometown like a tourist

You may not realise it, but we are less likely to explore our hometowns when it comes to looking for things to do. However, you town, village or city is bound to have some form of tourist attraction, so why not explore it? Go to the museums, head to the swimming pool, explore the parks. You may find some new favourite spots to spend the summer weeks. 

Get them involved with sports clubs and camps

Sport is a great way to keep children occupied, and also helps to keep them fit and healthy, so you may want to encourage some day camps os regular clubs to keep them occupied during the summer months. As a mom, you could also get involved by providing the refreshments or having an organised system with other moms for watching and the logistics of the sports clubs. It will be a great way to keep them occupied. 

Organise a weekly rota of chores

Chores may not be your children’s idea of fun, but it can be a great way to encourage them to do something a little different and can also give you a hand. Having children home all day means that things are likely to get more messier than usual. Encouraging them to keep their room tidy, make their own beds and just generally have their own responsibilities can help you out and occupy them in the process. 

Increasing your disposable income to pay for it

Mom guilt is real, and it can affect us in so many different ways. But the most common form of mom guilt anyone of us can feel is that fine balance between earning money for the family and being present as a parent. It’s hard, isn’t it? Especially during the summer months. It’s something more mothers should openly discuss, for one it might actually remove the sheer guilt we all seem to suffer from in silence. With that in mind, here are some options to help increase the disposable income to help pay for the summer to avoid the extra pressure that can be placed on the finances. 

Investing in stocks and shares

Playing the stock market might seem daunting to anyone who has never done it before. That could be true if you think you have to invest a huge amount at any one time. But the truth is you can start small and invest tiny amounts while you find your feet with the systems and trends. You could find a binary options site to help you get started. The stocks and shares markets could prove very lucrative for you, but it’s worth remembering that income is not guaranteed or regular. It’s easy to keep track of things from your own smartphone, making it something that can be done on the go. 

Meal plan and make savings on your bills

Another great way to help you increase your disposable income is to look at your current outgoings and make some savings. Things like food shopping may increase over the summer but if you plan your meals, cook from scratch and even batch cook you can often make a big saving to help you increase your disposable income without your children being short of snacks or food over the summer. You should also look at reducing energy bills, switching insurance providers and even making savings on days out by seeking out vouchers and discount codes for when you need to spend money. Small changes can all add up. 

Starting a blog about your interests and life

Blogging has fast become a lifeline for many parents as a way of documenting their life, sharing experience and tips, and also reaching out for help and support through the tough times. But in recent years it has also become a way of earning extra money for the family through advertising, sponsored content and affiliate links. Of course, earning money doesn’t start straight away. But it’s a great hobby to get into and could help you grow in confidence in other ways, especially if you have an interest in creating written content. However, other people are taking to websites like YouTube to share video content instead. Offering a chance of earning advertisement through adverts place on videos. This is something that could be done at home in the evenings or during nap times easily without infringing on your time with your children. There are plenty of websites to help you get started with one. 

Filling out online surveys or mystery shopping

Another simple way is to sign up to websites offering you the chance to earn money simply by filling out surveys. This is something that can easily be completed while you are watching TV in the evening, or during the morning when you are having a cup of tea or coffee. You could also consider signing up to websites wanting people to mystery shop restaurants and attractions. It’s a great way to offer experiences for the family, without it costing you anything. All you need to do is ensure you follow the guidelines and report back. 

Let’s hope this helps you to keep sane during the summer break.