Surviving Summer: The Ultimate Checklist for Overwhelmed Moms
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Stay Calm and Keep Your Cool This Summer
Summer: the season of endless sunshine, lazy days, and countless opportunities for family fun.
But for moms, it can also be a time of overwhelming stress and chaos.
How can you possibly juggle work, childcare, household chores, and keep everyone entertained without losing your mind?
Fear not, overwhelmed moms!
I’ve compiled the ultimate summer survival checklist to help you navigate the season with grace and sanity.
From time-saving tips to essential items to keep close at hand, I’ve got you covered.
So, grab a cup of coffee, put your feet up for a minute, and let’s dive into the secrets of surviving summer with a smile on your face.
1. Be Your Best: Nourish Your Body and Soul
During the summer months, it’s important for moms to prioritize their own health and wellness.
This means taking time to focus on healthy eating and self-care practices. Here are some tips and ideas for nourishing both body and soul during the summertime:
1. Hydration: As a mom, you are busy worrying about everyone else.
Make sure you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
Create a “Mom Only” water bottle and take note of how much you drink throughout the day.
If you are not pregnant, you should be drinking about 9, 8oz glasses or a little over 2 liters a day.
2. Greens: Incorporate fruits and vegetables into your diet as much as possible.
These foods are packed with vitamins and minerals that can help keep you feeling energized and healthy.
They are great for everyone in the family and if your kids see you eating and enjoying a variety of fruits and veggies, they are more likely to want to eat these items too.
3. Relaxation: Take time for yourself, even 5 minute breaks, to enjoy quiet music, meditate, or simply take time to color and breathe deeply.
These methods will all help you to alleviate stress, anxiety, and gain patience.
4. Exercise: Creating a routine of regular exercise is essential to your overall health.
When you exercise regularly you: help control weight, boost your mood and energy, and promote a great night’s sleep, just to name a few.
Exercise does not have to be Crossfit or HIIT.
You can go for a walk or bike ride.
Or put on some fun music and dance around the living room with the kids!
5. Sleep: Wow, sleep is the one thing that you want to do that can benefit you more than almost anything else!
Benefits include: weight control or loss, improves concentration, reduces risk of Type 2 Diabetes, helps reduce depression symptoms, and supports a healthy immune system.
Remember, when you are sleeping your body goes into rest and repair mode.
That means everything from your immune system, to your organs, to your cells, to your inflammation, everything is being attended to during sleep.
Getting enough sleep each and every evening should be your number one priority.
That is your number one priority after the little ones are sleeping through the night.
2. Manage Your Time: Organization and Prioritization
Managing time effectively is crucial during the summer months; we all know that if we want something to actually happen, we have to plan it.
Here are some tips to help:
1. Goals: Establish your goals for the summer.
Do you want your children to continue learning (avoid summer slippage)?
Do you want to get a family swim, zoo, museum, or botanical garden pass for the summer?
Do you want the kids to have regular playdates? How often?
Do you want to travel or go camping?
It helps to think about what you want to accomplish and then write it all down; the likelihood of accomplishing these exciting adventures is much higher when you do.
2. Calendar: This part is almost easy.
Now that you have decided what you want to do, get out the summer calendar, figure out everyone’s schedules, and then put down when you can go where.
It is during this part that you will also write down friends’ names and numbers who your children want to have playdates with.
3. Create a Daily Schedule: Children like routine.
We all are much more efficient when we have a regular schedule.
Create a daily schedule based on what each child is responsible for, account for meal prep, cooking, and clean up, if you have the children read each day, etc.
Keep the regular schedule in a place everyone can see it.
4. Utilize Time Blocks: Break your day into manageable time blocks dedicated to specific activities or categories of tasks.
For example, designate morning hours for household chores, afternoon hours for outdoor activities with the kids, and evening hours for relaxation and family time.
5. Delegate Responsibilities: Don’t hesitate to delegate tasks to other family members or enlist the help of a babysitter or daycare service if needed.
Share household responsibilities with your partner and involve older children in age-appropriate chores to lighten your workload.
6. Stay Flexible: While having a schedule is essential, it’s also crucial to remain flexible and adaptable.
Unexpected events or changes in plans are bound to occur, especially during the summer months.
Embrace flexibility and be prepared to adjust your schedule as needed without feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
7. Set Realistic Expectations: Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a given day and avoid overcommitting yourself.
Set achievable goals and don’t put too much pressure on yourself to do everything perfectly.
Remember that it’s okay to ask for help and prioritize self-care.
Your children will benefit from “down time” and having to learn to entertain themselves.
3. Beat the Heat: Essential Items for Summer
Summer is here, and with it comes the heat.
Whether you’re at home or on the go, it’s important to have the right items to keep cool and comfortable.
Here’s a list of essential items every mom should have on hand to beat the heat this summer and keep the kids happy:
1. Fan: A fan is a must-have for any summer day.
It helps circulate air and keeps you cool, especially when combined with windows open or a portable AC unit.
Plus, kids love the fan-my sister and I would play dress up and pretend we were stars in front of it with it blowing our hair back.
2. Water: Staying hydrated is crucial during hot weather.
Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to avoid dehydration.
Get the kids each a water bottle they can decorate with personal stickers.
3. Sunscreen: Protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays with a high SPF sunscreen.
Reapply regularly to ensure continued protection.
Not sure about the “right” sunscreen? I have you covered!
4. Hat: A wide-brimmed hat is perfect for keeping the sun off your face and neck.
Choose a lightweight fabric to stay cool.
It seems that some kids will keep a hat on and others just won’t.
Try taking your older child (not toddler) shopping so they can choose their hat; this may help them want to wear it.
5. Sunglasses: Not only do sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun, but they also add a stylish touch to any outfit.
6. Lightweight Clothing: Opt for loose, breathable fabrics like cotton and linen.
Avoid dark colors, which can absorb the sun’s heat.
There are also sun shirts with SPF that can be worn in the water.
7. Flip flops and sandals: Slip-on shoes are perfect for warm weather as they allow your feet to breathe and stay dry.
Your kids will also thank you for a good pair of sandals that are easy on and off as they go from activity to activity, sometimes requiring shoes and sometimes not.
Your back will thank you as well, as you will not constantly be bending over to help tie shoes.
8. First Aid Kit: Be prepared for any minor scrapes or burns that may occur during the summer months. Include band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and over-the-counter pain relievers in your first aid kit.
As an aside, I am writing this and I just returned from church.
A lady who does door dash had a motor cycle spill in the parking lot.
She had a lot of cuts and scrapes.
She needed antiseptic, gauze, and a couple of bandages.
The First Aid Kit can come in handy for all kinds of reasons!
9. Bug Repellent: Mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects can ruin a summer evening.
Choose a natural or chemical bug repellent to keep bugs at bay.
If you aren’t in a “super buggy” area, I like Skin So Soft by Avon-I have no idea why bugs hate this, but we spray it on our dog all summer and our dogs have never had fleas.
I use a mixture of peppermint and lemon eucalyptus essential oils for mosquitos, flies, and no-see-ums.
10. Travel Umbrella: A travel umbrella can come in handy for unexpected downpours or as shade.
Plus, umbrellas are just fun for kids at the park.
You can open one up and put a blanket underneath and have that serve as your “home base.”
11. Quick-dry towels: When it’s time to cool off, a quick-dry towel is essential for drying off after a dip in the pool, ocean, or run through the sprinklers.
Look for lightweight and absorbent options.
If your kids are anything like mine, they may be in and out of the water two or three times a day!
12. Lightweight jackets and cardigans: Keep something lightweight, but warm for everyone in the car.
When you go into restaurants, grocery stores, or the Summer Movie Fun or are out in the evening, it can get a little chilly.
*You do know about the Summer Movie Fun, right?
It is something like 8 movies for $8.
They are old movies, but the kids love going to the theater as a special treat each week.
Explore our captivating collection of books spanning fantasy, thriller, mystery, romance, and non-fiction. Click here to dive into a world of endless adventures and captivating stories.
- “The Way of Shadows” by Brent Weeks
- Walk on Earth a Stranger” by Rae Carlson
- “The Way of Shadows” by Brent Weeks
- “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” by Kim Michele Richardson
4. Plan Ahead: Fun Activities for Everyone
As summer approaches, one of the most daunting tasks for overwhelmed moms can be finding fun activities to keep their kids entertained throughout the season.
With so many options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure where to begin.
To help you plan ahead and ensure that everyone in your family has a memorable summer, here’s a checklist of ideas for fun activities to consider:
1. Start with the basics: You want your kids to play outside as much as possible.
Plan ahead and have items like playground balls, sidewalk chalk, tune up the bicycles so they are ready, bubbles, outdoor fort building materials, outdoor games-like frisbees and a target for frisbee golf, giant Jenga, or corn hole.
2. Sign up for sports or camps: Many communities offer sports leagues, music lessons, art classes, and camps during the summer months.
This is a great way to keep kids active, engaged, and learning new skills.
Often you have to sign up months in advance to be prepared for this one!
3. Attend local events: Look for community events, fairs, festivals, and parades happening near you.
These events often have activities, games, and entertainment geared towards children.
4. Plan a road trip or day trip: Explore nearby attractions, museums, or amusement parks.
Choose destinations that cater to both adults and children, ensuring everyone enjoys the experience.
5. National Parks: This goes with the road trips, but I would be remiss if I did not point out that the summer is a fabulous time to check out National Parks near you!
There are also National Monuments.
Have you heard of the National Parks Passport Book?
This is fabulous for kids, they get stamps or stickers when they visit these parks.
6. Have a movie marathon or game night: Gather friends and family for a cozy evening of movies, board games, or video games.
This can be a low-key yet enjoyable activity for all ages.
If you are looking for family friendly, but really funny movies, we have you covered!
7. Create a scavenger hunt: Design a list of items or clues for your kids to find around the house or neighborhood.
This can be a fun and engaging way to encourage exploration and teamwork.
If you want to achieve the exact same results but do not want to do the work-try Geocaching!
If you want to learn more about Geocaching, I explain it fully here.
8. Create a summer reading challenge: Encourage your kids to read books or participate in a summer reading challenge at the library.
This can foster a love of reading and help prevent summer slippage!
Summer is a marathon, not a sprint.
By implementing these practical strategies, you’ve equipped yourself to tackle the season with ease and enjoyment.
Remember, you’re not alone in this journey.
You’ve got an army of fellow moms cheering you on, ready to share tips and offer a helping hand.
Embrace the moments of chaos and laughter, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
This summer is your chance to create lasting memories with your family, while also discovering a newfound sense of calm and joy.
So, let’s gear up, embrace the sunshine, and make this summer a season of unforgettable experiences and laughter-filled days.