COUSIN MOMS ◽ TIPS
The two words moms get tired of hearing in the summer, once school is out, tend to wear on parents’ nerves. And although summer are so short, they can seem so long, if the kids don’t have anything to do, and mom feels at a loss of how to keep them occupied, while the life of Mom goes on. There are still meals to plan, rooms to organize and laundry to wash…so how to manage? We asked, and the Cousin Moms answered on how to keep your cool in the summer, when the kids are home.
Kamrin
Summer these days look different, now that my kids are older. They all have their own things that they do, and they all have camps – baseball, football, and theater. We don’t really have the “boredom” issues, but rather we have the issue of screen time.
This summer we want to try something new, so that the kids are not on their screens all the time. This will include going to the pool more. We may have fun days where we get snow cones, or we give them some money to shop at the dollar store. I also plan for game nights.
The kids don’t have to be entertained all the time, and they also don’t want to do arts and crafts all the time. A few video games are okay, in balance, as they call friends to play.
My boys do go outside a lot, to the park, just down the street. My daughter crochets and paints.
We have a plan to re-do the kids’ rooms this summer. They also want to learn how to cook – where they pick a recipe to cook dinner – and to spend time with their Ella (grandmother.) They will also have friends over!
If the kids were younger, we would definitely have quiet moments in their rooms to read, or we might have an adventure day to the aquarium or somewhere else cool inside. Or a zoo day, if it’s not too hot! An easy weekly project would be fun. Crochet kits are great. Splash pads are fun for the littles. One on one dates might be fun for the older ones – like coffee dates – and movies during the day, etc.
The older kids still get bored, but being intentional to stay off screens and to have friends over is one of my goals.
I will have no more elementary age kids this summer, so some intentional family times with a lunch out, or a day trip, and experiences – this will be fun.
It does help to have a schedule or a routine, so that intention is there. And memories are made!
Charissa
Five things we try and avoid so that the girls don’t say, “I’m bored:”
For me, for my sanity we always have a schedule. Each summer looks different depending on what the girls are involved in, or when I work. But we strive for consistency. It helps me and it helps the kids. We have always pick one day as our family fun day. Wednesdays are the day we might hike, go to the zoo or a nature center, or we swim…or do another outing.
Secondly, we use our local camps. There are so many that are free, some do cost, but getting the girls involved in something is important. The camps might be gymnastics and art, or something outdoors. It doesn’t have to be every day, but a few of these during the summer to learn or enhance a skill are great.
We also have a chore list during the summer. We try to refocus and assign each girl a chore, maybe laundry or mopping the floors, watering the plants, cleaning their rooms, vacuuming, etc. We have more time to reset what it means to work as a family to take care of our home. Another activity or project is that we usually declutter. We put everything out and decide what we need, so that we are ready to shop later in the summer for the new school year.
Every summer, I do engage with the kids in a specific bible study. One we did the fruits of the Spirit, another year was on becoming a Christian. We want to draw closer to God, and this helps us to ensure and focus on what is true, loving and pure.
The last thing is that we do try to plan a couple of family trips. We love to plan for these and it might be a cruise (this summer), or we go camping or to the beach. We look so forward to these!
These ideas keep our summers busy, full and loving…(and Mom sane).