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Smart Mom

Summer sanity Keep a cool head during these long, hot days. By Maria Bailey and Jennifer ArnoldPublished: July, 2009

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No more pencils, no more books – so, now what? Regardless if your children are tots, teens or somewhere in between, summer is a whole different animal than the rest of the year. And you’ve got to take the bull by the horns. Too much time with each other, combined with a lack of planning, can be a recipe for disaster. Oftentimes we burst out of the gates in May with packed agendas, only to lose steam mid-summer.     Fortunately, there are some ways to prevent summer from turning into a blur with each day looking the same. To maintain your sanity and avoid mid-summer meltdown, try a few of these tips. Most importantly, remember to relax and enjoy your summer with your kids, and remember that it won’t be long before we’re shopping for pencils and books. > Maintain a schedule – Do your best to keep bedtimes and wake times mostly the same throughout the summer. It’s easy to slip into the habit of letting your kids play outside a bit later or stay up watching the “Star Wars” trilogy for the 10th riveting time. And while these late nights are fun once-in-a-while treats, it’s best to try to maintain some semblance of a schedule so that you can structure the rest of your day. As moms, we can benefit by taking advantage of the quiet early-morning hours to gather our thoughts and energy for the day ahead – carpe diem!     Have a plan for the day, but stay open-minded. It’s true that some of the best summer memories stem from those unplanned moments. And while there’s no doubt that while good times will happen spontaneously, it’s probably best not to rely on months of good times happening on their own accord.     Create a structure to each day, including meals, activities for the kids, quality family time and some built-in downtime as well. Being prepared will help you to feel less stressed about the onset of boredom and stave off the marathon of monotonous days. And if for some reason your day doesn’t go exactly as planned, go with it. Be open to spontaneous fun and follow the rhythm of the day; who knows what will happen! > Ready the ship – No, not your getaway vehicle – your home. Pare down on your expensive rugs, breakables and accessories, and keep your living spaces equipped for the hectic summer days. Since dripping popsicles, exploding juice boxes and sticky hands are a fact of life in summertime, keep items such as beach towels and wipes handy.     It’s also a good idea to create a snack zone, so that little ones can pick their own healthy choices out of the fridge or pantry. If you can afford to, it’s a nice option to have an extra refrigerator (even a small dorm-sized one) in the garage for extra water, juice boxes, yogurts and such for your kids and their parched little pals.     Don’t forget to keep the outside of your house just as child-friendly. Frequent trips to the local dollar store will ensure that you have bins of water guns, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, butterfly nets and plastic balls to encourage productive outdoor play. > Take it easy – Your house is not a cruise ship, so take off the recreation director’s hat! Remember that you are not solely responsible for keeping your kids busy every minute of the day. Many of us have gotten used to entertaining our kids, packing their schedules with activities and social engagements so that there is not a second to daydream, look at the clouds, catch lightning bugs or build a fort. A little boredom is good for kids. It forces them to dig deep, get creative and draw upon their own imagination – instead of draining ours. > Keep a stocked craft closet – Don’t underestimate the power of the craft closet. Keep lots of the basics on hand: construction paper, glue, markers and paints, but throw in some new items such as pipe cleaners, rolls of aluminum foil, popsicles sticks and Styrofoam balls. And don’t forget to raid the recycling bin for cardboard, milk cartons and paper towel tubes. On a rainy day, who knows what your kids will come up with?     A good idea for storage is to hang a clear plastic shoe holder on the inside of a closet, pantry or laundry room door and place your craft items in each pocket for great organization and easy access for little hands. > Turn on the grill – Firing up the oven on a brutally hot day in July does not sound enticing. Plus, with your kids out of school, you’ll be even more on the go than usual these months and will likely not have the time or the desire to slave over a hot stove. Cooking in the summer is lighter and should be easier.      > Chill out on the cleaning – Chances are your house is not going to be featured in House Beautiful next week, so relax. Instead of making yourself crazy picking up after your kids and their friends all day, vow to do one sweep in the evening after dinner, and involve the kids.      > Schedule an hour of quiet time each day – All this togetherness will have a price, so nip little sibling fights in the bud by sending everyone to their rooms for at least an hour each day to regroup. Some down time is good for everyone. Little ones can nap or color while older kids can read or draw. Either way, everyone will recharge their battery and be ready for the rest of the day. > Make time for yourself – The most important ingredient to a perfect summer is mommy time! Swap childcare with a trusted pal or enlist the help of a mother’s helper. There’s nothing like the spunk and energy of a tween to entertain your children for a morning or two while you escape to the luxury of a hot bath. Put this mommy time on your calendar; otherwise it will not happen. You need this guilt-free time for yourself in order to be a happy summer mommy. •> SOLUTION OF THE MONTH: TRIP TIPS Ahhhh … summer road trips: the windows down, your favorite tunes on the radio – and three squabbling siblings in the backseat. Yikes! Traveling with your children can be a great family bonding experience, but asking young children to sit still in a confined area for hours on end can make for a less-than-family-friendly atmosphere. Build in time for stops along the way to let the kids run around.         Throw a few of the following items in the car to help kids get the wiggles out before climbing back in the van: > Jump rope – Who can jump the longest without tripping! > Stopwatch – Running to the tree and back is more fun when you’re trying to beat your brother! > Inflatable ball – Great for a quick game of catch. > Sidewalk chalk – Draw a hopscotch board for kids to jump on. •> SMART MOM GOES GREEN: PERFECT PLASTICS Say It With Vases is the alternative to those bulky glass vases stashed under your sink. These reusable plastic vases come in fun colors and hip patterns, and fold flat so they don’t take up valuable real estate. Simply fill them with water and add flowers! $8; jillable.com > Dandelion Reusable Bowls These days, it’s hard to know what plastic is safe for our kids. But summertime’s outdoor dining is no time for fine china. Keep things safe and easy with Dandelion’s easy-grip bowl. This unique, eco-friendly bowl is made from corn bioplastic, or PLA (unlike conventional plastic, which is petroleum-based). $6.99 at babyearth.com > Big Kid Eco Backpacks Send your kids to Grandma’s in style this summer, with Dante Beatrix’s new line of eco-friendly backpacks, made of recycled plastic bottles. They’re now on sale for $25 at littlejetset.com

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