It was 10:17 a.m. on a random Monday in July.
I remember the time exactly because my phone buzzed at work. It was my child calling me to ask, “Mom, what’s for lunch?”—even though, according to her dad, the breakfast dishes were still very much in the sink.
I let out a small laugh and shook my head.
This is summer parenting in real life. There she was, home on break, living her best life. She had crafted her own “summer schedule,” proudly handwritten in colored markers and taped to her wall like it was official business. It included everything: morning cartoons, snack time, bike rides, going to the park, and more snacks, but nothing academic.
Not one.
I stared at it last night, squinting, looking for some trace of reading, journaling, math... anything. But nope. Not a worksheet in sight.
And honestly? I didn’t blame her.
Because a break is a break. Kids need that rest. We all do. Especially after the structure, stress, and expectations of the school year. But let’s be real—as a parent, I already know how this is going to go.
That “schedule” of hers is going to unravel by day three, maybe day five if we’re lucky.
By then, the novelty of doing whatever she wants will wear off, and the boredom will creep in. And you know what happens when boredom shows up? That’s when the real parenting kicks in.
That’s when I find myself saying things like:
- “So… what book did you read today?”
- “Let’s do a quick math challenge before you go back to playing on your tablet.”
- “Remember your brain needs exercise too, not just your thumbs.”
And This Is the Dance We Do Every Summer.
We want our kids to rest—but not get too lazy.
We want them to have fun—but also keep growing.
We want them to feel free—but still stay grounded.
It’s a balancing act—and some days, the scale tips too far in either direction. And that’s okay.
Whether you're a parent trying to keep your child engaged or an educator trying to rest but also preparing for fall, July comes with mixed feelings. We’re all trying to find the sweet spot between rest and routine.
So if your kid's “break schedule” looks more like a party flyer than a learning plan, don’t panic. That’s part of the process. They are still learning about themselves, their limits, their creativity. And with a little nudge (and maybe some sneaky educational fun), we’ll get them back on track.
Eventually.
For now? Let’s just take a breath, laugh at the 10:17 a.m. lunch calls, and give ourselves grace.
Because honestly—we’re doing just fine.
