While most of us are in back-to-school mode right about now, I want you to slow down for just a moment and back up. You’ve just made your way through the gauntlet of summer, and I’m guessing you have a few lessons learned. Before summer fully ends and your mind moves on, reflect back on what worked and what didn’t. Prepare for next summer now. Next year you will thank you!
Budgeting
Summer parenting is not for the faint of heart, and it can take a toll on the wallet, too. Look back at the costs so you can have a better grasp of spending next summer. We have berry monsters in our house, so a line in the budget just for berries feels laughable but also wildly plausible. Outside of all of the extra food, what other things required more credit card swipes than normal? Consider pool memberships, camps, activities, or going out to restaurants or ice cream. How much roughly did you spend, and were you happy with that number? Next year, could you plan ahead more and get early-bird registration discounts? Special weekday movie theater discounts? Use more library passes to local attractions?
Timing
Review the calendar and remember what things seemed to flow nicely and what felt stressful. When did you sign up for summer camps? Were you too late for any registrations? Maybe you took the early morning slot for swim lessons to beat the heat, but the local pool was actually too chilly first thing for your little fish. Was a summer camp program the first full week of summer great, as your kiddo was still used to a “get up and get out” routine in the morning? Or did everyone wish they had a little downtime first before jumping into summer plans? Did your family thrive on having every weekend booked with fun events or were a few empty weekends just what the doctor ordered for some relaxation and recharge time?
Supplies
What did you love having on hand? Maybe it’s having a great supply of paints and paper. Or perhaps your kids kept coming back to temporary tattoos, kinetic sand, water balloons, or bracelet-making kits. Obviously, interests change from year to year, but having yourself stocked and ready in June with some fun basics can set you up for success.
How much sunscreen did you need? It is year 8 of parenting for me, and I still never buy enough at the start of summer. Are your beach towels from 2004 finally ready to be retired? Look now at the end-of-season clearances to start fresh next year. Did your outdoor space work for you? By getting just a few extra plastic Adirondack chairs this year, I made my life so much easier. I now have some in the front *and* back yard, so I no longer have to awkwardly drag a chair behind me each time the kids move to a new spot.
Write It Down
Think about anything else that really worked for you or felt harder than needed this summer. Make a few notes and consider tossing them in your calendar on June 1st next year. This way, you can revisit the knowledge you took away from this season and have a head start on the next go around! What lessons did you learn this summer?
