The Parent's Summer Survival Guide: You are doing better than you think:
- info040553
- Aug 12
- 2 min read
Welcome to summer holidays.
If you are reading this while hiding in the bathroom for five precious minutes of silence, know that you are not alone. Every parent across the country is currently questioning their life choices and wondering how teachers manage 30 children!
Let's be honest about what Summer holidays actually look like:
- Day 3: "This is going to be the best summer ever!"
- Day 7: Screen time rules have been quietly abandoned
- Day 14: You've heard "I'm bored" approximately 847 times
- Day 21: You're googling "when do schools go back?"
Sound familiar?
Survival Strategies for you to try:
The "Boredom Jar" Method
Write simple activities on pieces of paper and put them in a jar. When you hear "I'm bored," point to the jar. Their choice: pick something.
The "Quiet Hour" Rule
Every day from 1-2pm is quiet hour. Everyone finds something to do quietly in their own space. Non-negotiable. This isn't mean parenting – it's essential maintenance.
The "Good Enough" Philosophy
Your house does not need to be Pinterest-perfect. Your children don't need constant entertainment. Good enough is actually perfect.
The "Fresh Air Fix"
When everyone's getting on each other's nerves, go outside. Garden, park, even just the front step. Fresh air works magic on frazzled nerves (yours included).
Despite what Instagram might tell you, your children don't need:
- Elaborate craft projects
- Educational trips every day
- Structured activities from dawn to dusk
- A parent who has it all together
What they DO need:
- A parent who's not completely stressed out
- Some basic routine (even if it's loose)
- Permission to be bored sometimes
- To know you love them even when they are driving you mad
The children who look back most fondly on their childhood summers aren't the ones who had every moment planned. They're the ones who remember:
- Building dens in the living room
- Having water fights in the garden
- Staying up late watching films
- The time mum joined in with their silly games
- Feeling safe and loved, even during the chaos
Your children won't remember that you served fish fingers three nights in a row. They will remember that you were there, that you cared, and that you made it through together.
A Gentle Reminder:
It's okay to count down the days until September. It's okay to feel overwhelmed. It's okay to not have all the answers.
You are doing the very best you can....
....and that, dear parent, is more than enough so unclench that jaw and breathe....
You've got this. ☀️
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