How to Prepare for Kids Home for Summer

It was about two months ago when a friend and I were talking and she nervously added in "And do you know summer is already coming!?!  I have no idea what I am going to do with my kids and how I am going to get anything done!"

It made me very aware that summer was approaching quickly and I too, needed to start planning ahead.

In the past my summer's were quite hectic!  I had no schedule and just went with the flow day by day.  I feel like I ran on "toddler time"!  I had three littles home so our overall schedule had mornings and afternoons open, but nap times were definitely to be spent at home so the littles could stay on a schedule.

This worked okay, but my to do list just kept growing and growing.  I became anxious getting nothing done, even though I was enjoying every moment of getting to stay home with the kiddos.

Everything on my list must have taken an extra three hours to complete with the kids home too!  I know I am not the only one who went or is going through this!

Fast forward to creating a consistent self care routine for myself and my kids, summer time home with the kids doesn't worry me a bit like before.

I know for the most part exactly how every week of summer will flow.  I already know our monthly, weekly, and daily schedules too which is an amazing feeling!

Here is what you can do to stop the anxiety, rat racing around, emotional rollercoaster turns of summer chaos so you can stay focused, still get your stuff done, have time for yourself and your kids, and actually enjoy your moments while being completely present in them! 

1.  Grab your calendar or print the summer months of calendars from google (just type in "free printable calendar").  Go through each month of June, July, August, and September (if your kids start school again this late) and write down all the days you already know you have work or plans.

Once you do this take a moment to view the BIG picture of what summer looks like.

Any free days you have, leave them as just that, "free days" to choose what you want to do when it comes up.  Or write in parenthesis what you could possibly do (like a summer bucket list plan if the weather if nice).  This ensures you get free days and don't miss out on your summer activities you most likely won't make time for before summer is over if it isn't on the calendar.

2.  Create or print a weekly calendar separate from your summer calendar.  This can be purchased as an all in one calendar book too with weeks, months, and days in it, or can be printed just like the monthly calendar.  On one piece of paper you should have all the days of the week open to write notes on.  If you have times of day on the side better yet, otherwise please add hourly times you are awake to the side.

Then fill in a rough draft of what you do weekly.  Block out time you work, have sports, music lessons, sleep, nap time, exercise time, meditate, yoga, walk, etc.  Self Care time gets blocked, even if you are only wanting to put a facial mask on and make aromatherapy roller ball blends!

The goal here is to try to get a good feel at what your normal week looks like in summer time.  This will help you adjust your daily and weekly schedules on the holiday weekends or days when you travel or have plans.

Take a good view at your week and see if there are any time adjustments you can make anywhere that may make things run more smoothly.  For example, if you work a half day on Wednesday's, would it make more sense to run to the gym to workout and to the grocery store while the kids are in day care yet or already have it planned in your schedule that you will be gone like the other work days?

Would it make more sense to get up an hour early to make the kids meals and snacks for the day while you are gone or to prepare for your fun day with the kids so you aren't so rushed.

Would it make sense to skip a few things in your week to free up some time to spend with your kids or on getting more done that needs to get done versus something you may have on the calendar that you really don't even want to do.

3.  Now that you know what the big picture of summer activities look like and what your weekly routine roughly looks like, go ahead and print or use a daily calendar now with hours.  Here is where you adjust your days now to work around your weeks (like holiday and travel weeks).  You will be able to see where you can add extra hours of work in or plan ahead for self care time, especially for those super busy weekends ahead.

Doing this part right here was a HUGE everything saver for me!  My days ran more smoothly.  I wasn't walking from room to room trying to figure out what I was supposed to be doing.  My TODO list was still getting done.  I knew exactly what I had to do and I knew exactly what they could be doing while I did my things.

Even if you are a stay at home MOM!  Do this!  Fill in the hours, I swear by it!

PRO TIP - Where ever possible, add an extra thirty minutes before and or after a task or event to give yourself extra time.  Kids always need something, so planning ahead ensures you have time for them and time to still be on time for the next task.  If you have kids five and younger, I would encourage you to try to add a few extra thirty minute free slots (six per day if possible) OR a full hour a few times per day as younger kiddos sometimes need more of Mom's time unexpectedly for things like potty training, sniffles, refusing to nap, tummy aches, or even just time to reason with your toddler. :)

➡️ If you want to take your self care routine to the next level, check out this blog for self care tips you can start today!

So there you have it!  Prepare for summer with the kids home by having three schedules.

1.  A Monthly Schedule.

2.  A Weekly Schedule.

3.  A Daily Schedule.

Enjoy staying on task without over stressing, rushing to avoid being late, outbursts from kiddos not liking chaos, and the ability to consistently get your self care time in, have patience, emotional balance, and stay on track while balancing work life and Mom life.

If you need help creating this schedule and need support in creating a self care routine personal to you and your kids, than let's spend an hour online together and get it done!

One hour can save you hundreds of wasted hour this summer!

Right now is the BEST time to learn natural ways to stay consistent and products that can support emotional balance through the busy summer months.

Not to mention, if you do this NOW for yourself and your kiddos, think of how much EASIER adjusting to back to school will be!

Click Here to Get Started!

---

Want to keep the health and wellness tips coming to your inbox all summer long?  Click here to sign up today!  ​ It's free!

---