May 20, 2023
Attention, parents: it’s already May, and you know what that means—utter chaos. As we approach the end of the school year, our lives are filled with frantic field trips, last-minute school projects, and recitals. Our children are running wild, clearly suffering from what can only be described as a severe case of spring fever (if that’s not a recognized condition, it certainly should be). Meanwhile, we parents are hanging on by a thread, eagerly counting down the days until this madness comes to a close.
I understand your struggle, fellow exhausted parents. But brace yourselves—summer is no walk in the park either.
Right now, with our exhausted but hopeful outlook, it’s easy to daydream about lazy summer days filled with sunshine. After enduring countless lunch preparations (with the crusts removed, of course), enduring chilly baseball games, and signing what feels like a million permission slips, we’re ready for a break. The countdown to summer is on, and our only motivation is the thought of a few months without the morning routine of wrestling grumpy kids out of bed or repeatedly asking, “Did you finish your homework?” We’ve already resigned ourselves to letting our kids fend for themselves when it comes to lunch. Honestly, if my child wants to pack a lunch consisting solely of chips and jerky, I’m all for it.
After months of signing permissions for band, zoo trips, and field days, our hands are sore. The sound of that relentless recorder is enough to make us question our sanity, and the thought of enduring another drenched soccer practice feels unbearable. Just when we think we’ve hit our limit, our children present us with a countdown calendar for the end of the year, complete with themed days. Thanks, spirit week!
At this point, the wheels have completely come off the bus. We’re done. (Teachers, we sincerely apologize for our collective exhaustion.)
But then comes summer—the sweet, sweet promise of freedom! No more lunches to prepare! No more cranky morning kids! No more homework struggles! No more piles of paperwork to deal with (or toss in the trash)! Halle-freaking-lujah!
Summer should be about slow mornings, where we don’t have to scream at our children to find their shoes because the bus is arriving. It’s a time for weekends free from reminders about unfinished projects due the next day. We envision a nostalgic summer filled with lemonade stands and running through sprinklers. Our kids will play outside until dusk, and perhaps we’ll even create chore charts to help manage screen time and household responsibilities without nagging. Heck, we might even enjoy a soda on the porch while we’re at it.
But let’s be honest for a moment—summer break is truly an oxymoron. Those dreamy visions are unattainable. While we may have the best intentions, summer is actually a trade-off: school lunches are replaced by endless snack requests. Sibling rivalries take the place of homework arguments, and the paperwork is now swapped for wet towels and remnants of popsicles scattered across the house. Not to mention the added bonuses of sweat and mosquitoes.
So, parents, prepare yourselves. This is not a drill. Summer is approaching, and you should stock up on essentials. Head to the store for that massive box of fruit snacks and sunscreen. Make “Shut the door!” your daily mantra, as you’ll be repeating it at least 245 times a day. Invest in blackout curtains to avoid nightly debates with your child about bedtime while the sun is still shining.
Don’t get me wrong—summer can be fantastic. Think road trips to the beach, evening bike rides, and ice cream treats. However, managing expectations is crucial. Scale back those starry-eyed summer dreams. Lower. Lower still. Perfect.
In solidarity, fellow parents. Only 92 days until back-to-school season.
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In summary, while summer promises a break from school, it often turns into a different kind of chaos. Prepare for the trade-offs and remember to manage your expectations as you navigate the joys and challenges of summertime with your family.
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