The school summer holidays are something every child looks forward to all year; unfortunately, for us parents, they’re not always rainbows and butterflies.
Other people might imagine how lovely it is that you get to spend two whole sunshine-filled months with your little darlings and you might even dream about how blissful it will be. The reality is that while you’ll experience plenty of magical moments, there will also be lots of mundane ones too.
While a break from the school runs is welcome, the days with no school are LONG. Parenting is tiring at any time of the year, but especially during the school summer holidays. Your kids could have a playroom packed full of toys, but they’ll still whinge that they’re bored the minute they break up.
Here’s a guide to staying sane during the school summer holidays.
Whatever The Question, Caffeine Is Always The Answer
Whether you crave a caramel macchiato from Starbucks or simply enjoy a hot pot of tea, make sure you treat yourself to your favourite beverage whenever you get the chance. There’s something so relaxing about sipping on your favourite hot drink, and when you’re surrounded by crazy kids, you need all the soothing vibes you can get. Thankfully, you can now get your favourite drinks at drive-thrus so there’s no need to drag everyone into a coffee shop.
Lower Your Standards
It gets frustrating when you do your best to keep your home tidy, but your children are determined to mess it up at every opportunity. When they’re into kinetic sand, paint and play dough, you’re in for a rough ride. The best tip here? Go with the flow. Forget trying to constantly clean up after them and instead appreciate the peace and quiet you get while they’re busy getting creative. Grab a book and avert your eyes and you never know; they might even paint you something beautiful that you can frame.
Fresh Air Is The Best Medicine
Getting out for some fresh air is a great way to calm everyone down. A trip to a local park will benefit everyone because walking boosts your mood, reduces stress and improves sleep. Little ones love to get out into nature to discover new insects and birds and are fascinated by different stones, sticks and leaves. They’ll probably want to bring home some of the little "treasures" they find too, which makes going for a walk a much cheaper option than a trip to the toy shop. No doubt they’ll spend longer playing with their new nature collection than they would with a piece of plastic anyway!
