🌟Weekly Inspiration🌟

I was talking with some mom friends this week and noticed that I became stressed hearing about their schedule for the summer. I think I became stressed for their children actually! All of a sudden, as of mid-July, all the weekly sports/extracurricular commitments have begun again for many families. The moms felt frantic and stressed…the kids seemed exhausted. It is SUMMER! We should all feel less scheduled, less stressed, and more rested.

This is an easy trap to fall into in modern parenting. There is pressure to do, learn, and practice. It is hard for folks to relax and just be. This week, I’m just giving you permission if you need it—to do less and let it be summer ☀️. We are human beings, not humans doing. Here are some ideas for how to let go: read a beach book, not a scholarly one, sleep in, say no to an invite, go to the beach all day with no agenda, let them skip practice, take naps, travel near and far, stay up late having fun, all afternoon Monopoly games, eat ice cream, get bored and figure something out, go to the dog beach, and let them skip practice (yes, I said that twice!).

I’m not judging. This is hard in my own family too. I know it’s hard to be totally unstructured, especially if both parents are working etc…but we can likely all be more intentional about releasing the pressure valve. They are children and should play. We are grown-ups AND we still need to play ❤️.

Ask yourself:
 

What were my summers like as a kid? Did I feel stressed or exhausted?
Do I allow my children enough downtime?
What is my resistance to letting them just be, get bored, be free, and unstructured?
What happens to them emotionally if we push hard all summer and they never get a break?
Have any of my children burned out on activities? Is it inevitable if we continue at this pace?

What small shift can you make that would benefit your family?