Countdown to Summer

Countdown to Summer

Many of you, or your children, are counting down the days to summer.  Not the official meteorological start of summer, I’m talking about no school summer.  Although our child has graduated college, off working and on their own, I fondly remember this last push before summer.

Most of our team at ECi Stores are parents, in school, or finished school not too long ago.  We all have different reactions to the last month of school.

Some of the parents are facing finding reliable, fun child care for their children so they can continue to work through the summer.  Many have family nearby to help with the kids, but there’s still the added pressure of suggesting activities for the kids & grandparents to do so they can enjoy the summer, not just be at grandma’s house every day.

Some of our parents are firming up plans for camps, or figuring out the schedule to continue their kids' education with summer school or educational opportunities.  This seems to be a big burden on the parents I’ve talked to.  It is half school, half summer.  Do you relax the bedtime to enjoy the sun later into the evening, or still try to get the kids to be early since they will need to go to school the next day, albeit for a shorter day?  

Some in our team are adjusting their schedules between the other parents involved to now work after their partner gets home from work to reduce child care expenses for the summer.  These parents are taking care of the kids all day, most likely, planning dinner before they go to work later in the day to accommodate for their partner’s work schedule and share the parenting time.  This does seem to work, but only for a few months, then all the parents and the kids get burnt out of this schedule.

Whatever plans you are making for the summer, there is still this sense of freedom, joy, and fun we don’t always have in the winter.  There are more days to sleep a little later, spend time outside in the sun, and probably some water, and stay up later thanks to brighter night skies. 

The last month of school is full of activities, award celebrations, final games, shows, recitals, plays, and performances.  Although it’s easy to get caught up in the frantic schedule of the last month, take a moment to enjoy where you are.  I know it’s easier said than done, but if you can, stop right where you are, and just take it in.  Take in the sound of the kids performing something they’ve been working on.  Take in the smell of the BBQ after a final game.  Take in the complimentary words your teachers are saying about the progress your student made this year.  Just for a moment, stop and take it in.  You can then go back to the hectic schedule, figuring out how to be in multiple places at once, how to keep the kids engaged for the last few weeks, and all the planning needed for the next months, but for this moment, just take it in.