7 Summer Survival Tips for the Stay-at-Home Mom

I typically enjoy being a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) but the summer of 2018 was rough in my house. I had an 18-month-old and a 6-year-old and the novelty of summer wore off fast. There was lots of whining, lots of yelling, lots of time outs, more yelling, and a whole lot of stress eating (DQ twist cones were my go-to). I was losing my cool on a daily basis and felt terrible about it. By the time the 4th of July rolled around, I was counting down the days until school started. As relieved as I was when summer was finally over, I knew I’d face future summers with dread if some things didn’t change.  

So, in early 2019, I started planning for a better summer. Along with caring for my own mental health (therapy and medication do wonders!), here are some tips that have made this summer 100 times better than last year.  

1. Camps. As a stay-at-home mom I would be LOST without camps. My smartest move this year was enrolling both girls in camps on the same days. The days that both girls are at camp, I have peace, quiet, and the chance to do the things that I love to do in my free time. I set aside money for summer camps all year long and then when it comes time to enroll, we have the money earmarked and ready to go. If camp seems out of reach financially, consider church VBS programs or joining a gym for the summer that offers a couple of hours of free childcare each day. You don’t even have to workout. You can just bring a book and find a quiet place to relax while the kids play!
2. Routine. Both of my girls thrive on a predictable schedule (and to be honest, so do I!). They are expected to get dressed and brush their hair and teeth after breakfast, take care of the dog, and then get ready for our morning outing. On the hottest days, we’ll have a dance party or do Cosmic Kids Yoga to get their wiggles out. After lunch, it’s time for my favorite part of the day…rest time! 
3. Enforce a rest time. While I still have one child that naps every afternoon, my oldest needs quiet activities to occupy rest time. We stay stocked up on supplies from the craft store and books from the library so she always has something she can do independently each afternoon. She also gets some screen time while her sister sleeps (more on this in tip #7). I need rest time as much as they do! It’s like a mid-day reset! 
4. Snack plate. The CONSTANT requests for snacks in the summer of 2018 about did me in. A brilliant dietician introduced me to the idea of the snack plate. After rest time, I set a plate on the table with a variety of snacks on it for my girls to graze on: fruit, crackers, salami, cheese, carrots, cookies, nuts, etc. Once the snack plate is set out, the whining stops (at least for a couple of hours!).
5. Fun list/bucket list. I sat down with my oldest daughter at the beginning of the summer and we brainstormed fun summer activities. I typed them up and put them in two columns: free/low-cost activities and activities that cost money. There is no pressure to do everything on the list, but keeping the list on the fridge helps me think of fun outings I know the kids will enjoy. If you are running out of ideas, check out my list!
6. Prioritize mom. Really, this should be number one on this list, because if you aren’t taking care of yourself, things can go downhill quickly. On evenings and weekends, I often head out for some kid-free time. I schedule get-togethers with friends, and for the last two summers, I’ve gone on a kid-free mom’s weekend at the lake. I highly recommend a short getaway to recharge!
7. If it’s not working, change it! Last summer, I relied way too much on screen time. By the end of July, I realized that many of the behavior issues and huge tantrums my oldest was having were related to screen time. In a drastic move, I banned screen time for two weeks. And then two weeks turned into a month when I saw how much better her mood and behavior became. She now gets a little screen time on the weekends, but if she wants any during the week, she has to earn it. Don’t be afraid to make a change to your summer routine, even if it results in a few days of unhappy kids. 

What tips or mom hacks do you have that make your summer at home with kids more enjoyable?  I’d love to hear them!