As a working mom, summer does not bring the change in routine that it does for mom’s who do not work. This is the time of year, that I am most envious of my friends who truly get to enjoy the benefits of summer – lazier mornings, not rushing to get to school, weekdays at the pool or park, and more time with your kids.
In our house, we still have a change in our routine because preschool is out, but it doesn’t seem to make our mornings any less hectic. And every year when May rolls around, I have great intentions of setting up playdates with Zoe’s classmates for later in the summer. My goal is to keep her as active and engaged with friends as possible so that she doesn’t miss out on fun because her mom works. She gets so excited about seeing her friends from school in the middle of the summer.
I have signed her up for a week long day camp at her preschool as well as a few swim lessons. And since I don’t work on Fridays, I make this day a bigger deal in the summer with regular picnics and other outings. We are so lucky to belong to a neighborhood pool, so we try to make it there every week and meet friends when we can.
And my favorite thing about summer has arrived – the long days. It is a real blessing for working moms. I get to spend more quality time with the girls after work in the evenings. We can go for a walk when I get home or just play outside after dinner. And with no school in the morning, sleeping in is an option for the girls if they stay up a little later than normal.
So although I still wake up every single morning and hit the grind, I was better prepared for summer than I have been in the past. I am thoroughly enjoying a more laid back state of mind and three months of fun and sun.
Do you have any Smarty tips for working moms in the summer? Do share!
