Think about it.
Next week, instead of re-heating your coffee at 8 am, you might actually be able to make a new one. It might actually be okay that your son is only wearing one shoe and your daughter won’t take her pyjamas off. Knotty curls? Not a problem. No bedtime? Welcome to the club. No one can judge your parenting once June is over. You have conquered the school year, and in doing so, the world...
This week will be tough. You are in survival mode and you can almost taste the freedom of Friday evening. Hang in there. Just keep telling yourself it is almost over. There is so much to look forward to, even if you are dreading the void you will have to fill over the next two months. To psych you up for the summer, we have compiled a list of changes that will put a smile on your visibly tired face!
1. The drop-off
It’s wonderful to see parents throw the scholastic towel in when June comes to an end. If you are one of those who tries to look presentable on the school run, you no longer have to slick on mascara in the car and use the rear-view as your mirror.
If you have thrown your physical appearance to the wind since you became a parent, you no longer have to feel guilty about it. You don’t have to fake-smile at other parents who look like they have their lives together. You don’t have to feel bad about yelling at your morning-demons, or handing over said demons to someone else to deal with.
2. The uniform
Try to resist the urge to ceremoniously burn uniforms. It will save you a fortune in September. September?! Don’t even mention it! Until the week before, you will not have to stress about the whiteness of collars or the size of sleeve-holes.
Whatever happens, it will not be the end of the world if you allow them to choose their own outfits for the day. You could make life a lot easier for yourself by investing in a pair of Crocs or jelly shoes this minute. Shoe laces? In July? Not happening. Unless its sports or wedding-guest related, rubber shoes are a must.
3. The Routine
If you really want to dramatically protest the system, take a picture of your kids watching their third half-an-hour of TV at 10 pm, eating Oreos. You deserve the satisfaction of not having to assume your dreaded role of homework police. Make lunches minutes before consumption, rather than prepping the night before. Throw freezer- waffles at them whenever one complains of hunger. Anything goes in the Summer, right?
Savour this. Have an Oreo. Have the whole packet. Your routine should be falling apart nicely at this stage. Let it dissolve. Anyone who tries to keep a routine in summer is setting themselves up for a serious headache.
4. Summer camps
If you’ve enrolled your little ones in summer camps, at least they will be getting up for something they want to attend. Somewhere no one is judging their academic abilities and a bit of messing is totally acceptable.
Also, you’re paying enough and there’s no sign-in sheet. Arriving a little late shouldn't be an issue either. This ‘run’ should be a totally different experience. If you can, wear your pyjamas. If you are heading to work, those frowns you usually get at the drop-off will be replaced with the sweetest good-byes that you can gush over when you get into the office.
5. Weekends
School is not the only thing finishing: Those weekend activities will soon be over. You know, the ones you pushed on your kids because you were told that it would improve their something something? Or the ones they begged you to start, but now complain about?
No more weekends entirely dedicated to matches, training and ballet classes. This opens up some free time, especially if you don’t work weekends. You can put the telly on in the morning and try for a lie-in. You can eat together as a family. You could all go away for the weekend (yes, that’s a thing).
6. Holidays
You have spent time planning your holiday. You will, of course, need a holiday after the holiday (you probably won’t get it but you can keep telling people that’s what you need). However, even a break with the whole fam is still something to look forward to.
The kids will still fight, but at least you’ll have a glass of wine in your hand while they do it.
Your other half will still leave stuff everywhere, but on holidays, so will you. Also, you don’t have to think about pleasing anyone accept those you created. So, except for taking a few snaps, turn that phone off. You don’t need to keep in contact with the outside world. You also need to get to a point where you miss home, so that you can be okay about your holiday being over (chances). The best way to do that is to forget reality as soon as you leave.
Also, everyone knows that you can't get nits on holidays, right? RIGHT?
7. September
Of course, summer can come with a lot of stress too.
You now have the daunting task of entertaining your prodigy for two months. You will learn things about their behaviour that has been concealed by school.
This might make you laugh or it might make you cry. At least the entertainment can be at your own pace, dress code and preference (to some extent). Gradually, the summer will begin to feel endless. This is a good thing. Just like with the holiday, you will hopefully get yourself to a point where you are looking forward to the September you once dreaded.
You will crave the routine you now despise. Yes, you will miss the reliable uniform, fitting nicely into the endless loop that is ‘the school years’.
Good Luck!
