The summer holidays are here and as a mom, I am apprehensive! Help me beat this stress-filled summer!

A month of summer has gone by, and there is about 2 months more to go before the children go back to school. How are the moms out there? 

Do you find yourself counting the days before you can go back to your usual school-based schedule or are you faring pretty well and enjoying the summer days so far? 

Regardless whether it is your first few summers as a mom, or you have been a mom planning your children’s summer for the 10th time or more, most moms in the US feel that summer time with kids is one stressful and often overwhelming experience! 

Preventing burnout among moms during summer 

Your experience this summer will mostly depend on whether you are able to keep stress at bay or you become burnt out.

Why are moms prone to high levels of stress in summer? 

• There is a limited number of camps that children can join, and camp prices in the US have gone very high after the Covid-19 pandemic. 
• Cost of living in many areas in the US has also gone up, affecting families’ budget and their ability to send children to summer camps. 
• More families now have both parents working, while the number of families that live with extended family (like grandparents) has decreased. 
• Society at large expects moms to be the principal mastermind of summer-related activities, increasing pressure on moms to create a fun and meaningful summer experience for the family. 

Dealing with Summer Stress

• It starts with your expectations. What is your goal this summer? They do not have to be the same goals that you see on other moms, especially on social media, because often we only see the good side, the side that is manageable and pretty, but we do not see the mom stress behind the scenes. 

Your goals would depend on the season your family is in right now. I guess the simple and heartfelt goal of moms is to make this summer both fun and meaningful for everyone in the family. How do you then create the action steps to reach your goal this summer? Make your summer goals realistic and appropriate for your family’s lifestyle and current resources. 

This will relieve any pressure you feel in keeping up with others, and you will be able to create plans that will be personalized for your children. They would thank you for it! 

• Create your summer routine. It is true that kids have free time and they are free from their usual schedule, but it does not mean that they will have free reign in the house. 

Children of all ages are still developing their skills in receiving instructions, following directions and dealing with authority, so just as there are school rules that teach children, there should also be house rules that guide their actions at home! This is where your summer rules come in handy. 

Giving children some responsibilities at home and teaching them new skills to do them, like helping clean up after eating, or washing dishes, and cleaning their room according to their capacity are great additions to summer rules. 

Also, time when they can do independent play teaches children the feeling of boredom, and thus encourages them to be more creative. Add free time in their schedule! This time the children are playing can be your own “me-time” 

One of the sources of summer stress is moms expecting to fill up all free time with special events like swim lessons, visits, get togethers, trips, camps until there is no more room to rest and recover in between events. 

• Focus on the activities that YOU AND YOUR FAMILY enjoy doing the most! 

When it comes to creating unforgettable memories with the family, you remember the things that you had the most laughs, the most quality time spent with the family, and the most bonding time, however simple they may be. 

Overall, relieving the pressure to moms lessens their anxiety and stress too. The summer does not have to be overabundant with so many activities, but it is the quality of time you get to step back a little, enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, and spend time with the ones you love that will make the wonderful family memories in summer! 

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