Many parents dread the day that school lets out for the summer. While some parents opt to send their youngsters to camp, others try to find fun, engaging, and unique activities for their kids to do all summer long.
Summer should be easy, right?
While it sounds easy to find fun things to do when the weather is nice, it can be a struggle for parents to continuously find “new” things for their kids to do every day without getting bored or restless.
Not to mention, many activities cost money.
Pool memberships, beach passes, and tickets to shows or museums all cost money — some cost even more than it would to send your kids to camp during the day.
There’s so much pressure to be the “perfect” parent.
Parents always put a lot of pressure on themselves to keep their kids busy every single day during summer vacation, especially when they see their friends who are doing so all over social media.
It can be hard to not compare yourself to others.
Just like with couples who relationships with those seen on social media, parents are constantly comparing themselves to other parents who share photos and statuses online about their adventures and plans.
Some parents feel as though they’re not doing enough for their kids when they see other moms and dads constantly on the go with theirs.
It makes us feel like we’re failing if our days aren’t as action-packed as other parents we see online.
One mom’s post on Facebook is going viral for her brutal honesty about staying home with her kids during the summer.
Kristen Hewitt had no problem being blunt and honest about what it truly means to be a “tired mom.”
The photo showed her two daughters on the couch in their PJs, totally napping the day away.
Hewitt started out by saying: “I had big plans to be a “good mom” this summer. There were going to be chore charts, reading goals, daily letter writing practice, and cursive classes.
There would be no screen time until the beds were made, and planned activities for each day of the week.
Today was the first day of summer vacation and our scheduled beach day.
But here’s what we did instead.”
She continued to say that they totally did the opposite of those “social media” summer posts.
“Lounged in our pj’s until 11am, baked the girl’s pick – chocolate chip cookie brownies, started an art project we never finished, then moved to the pool.
It’s so easy to be pressured by things we see on social. Ways to challenge our kids and enrich their summer. But let’s be real – we’re all tired.
Tired of chores, tired of schedules and places to be, tired of pressure, and tired of unrealistic expectations.
So instead of a schedule we’re doing nothing this summer. Literally NOTHING. “
Hewitt is doing the “summer of me.”
“No camps. No classes and no curriculums.
Instead, we’re going to see where each day takes us. I’ve dubbed this the “Summer of Me”, so workouts and clean eating are a priority for me. And also giving our girls the freedom to pick what THEY want to do.
We may go to a local pool and check out the swimming programs. And we join the local YMCA. But whatever we do – it will be low key.
It will include family time, too much TV, a few trips, lots of sunshine, some new roller skates, water balloons, plenty of boredom, rest, relaxation, and reading. (Because mama likes to read!)
So if you haven’t figured out what you’re doing this summer, you’re not alone. And guess what? It’s OK! Your kids will be fine and so will you.”
People on Facebook were incredibly grateful for Hewitt’s honesty.
One mother wrote: “I love it! Fb puts a lot of pressure on us to do something amazing and quite frankly that is not always possible!” And, another said: “I’m doing the same….my parents did not plan my summers as a kid…they just said “get outside and play…be home by dark”.
I’m all for this “summer of me”.
Whatever you decide to do with your kids this summer, make sure you put yourself and your kid’s needs first and don’t let social media completely control what you decide to do.
