An Uncomplicated Life Blog: I Despise Summer Break

Thursday, May 26, 2016

I Despise Summer Break

Summer break is every student and teacher's favorite time of the year, but for mom's and caregivers, it's the most dreaded and despised


May 16 was the last day of the school year for us. I've actually been thinking about that day since mid-January or so. Not with fondness, day dreaming and making summer plans. But with dread. I know everyone is excited for summer break and most people are making fun vacation plans. Heck, we even have travel plans even with two kids two and under! But I've been spending way too much time dreading the upcoming summer. Summer break just has a different ring to it when you're the caregiver/mom.

You do despise summer break because the kids are always bored and there's not enough to do?
 One of my favorite rituals with Henry is driving him to school in the morning. He's SO EXCITED to go, he actually stands by the door to the garage. If I'm taking too long, he'll grab his backpack and do laps around the dining room table, too antsy with anticipation to sit still. It's adorable! Then on the drive, I listen to the most hysterical morning show and they play the "Mad Minute" - a prank call where one caller tries (successfully) to upset a friend or relative, and they get the DJ's in on it to make it convincing. I'm usually laughing so hard I have tears and Henry starts laughing hard because I am. Or he already has a developed sense of humor, who knows.

Then we get to school and Henry claps his hands in excitement. He sprints in the doors. He says hi to the school pet (a black bunny named Midnight) and doesn't even look back when I drop him off at his classroom. It's so fun to see him so excited about school. And just as fun? The car ride back home SOLO with the tunes cranked up. Or I go to a coffee shop to blog. Sometimes I go out to breakfast or lunch by myself. *Otto is with a nanny, in case you thought I just left him at home unattended*

Henry's school time is my sanity time. It's the only time of day I know for sure I can eat without interruption. It's the only time of day I get to go to the bathroom by myself. Sometimes, it's the only time of the week I can get a shower in. It's definitely the only time I can get a haircut or a pedicure.

That's why I absolutely despise summer break. Summer break robs me of my fun morning ritual, one of my favorite times with my son and usually the only time he and I spend one-on-one time together. If that wasn't bad enough, it robs me of my alone time. Blogging time. Eating time. Showering time.

My kiddos are standard, high energy boys. Which is perfect for me, because I hate sitting around, too! But in Texas in the summer, it's easily triple digit heat by 8 or 9am. So while other moms can plan fun outdoor activities, I'm stuck inside somewhere or said activity has to involve a pool or splash pad. So now we're talking ritual gone, sanity gone and I'm stuck trying to come up with activities for young boys to do to get their energy out! Gahhhh, summer break, you're the WORST!

Last year's 4th of July parade. It was 104 by 10am and we were all sweating buckets and rosy cheeked just sitting there!

I think that's actually the toughest part. The oppressive heat. When we lived in Minnesota, a sense of dread would come over me around my birthday - mid October - because I knew the never ending winter was upon us. It would be painful (no really. It's so cold up there it causes physical pain!) to go outside in anyway, to the point where you don't want to go anywhere, for any reason, ever. In Texas, I start to get that feeling deep in my gut around mid April, knowing the never ending heat is creeping in. I've just flipped seasons and problems. Except, I'll tell you what; it's not painful to step outside here. Just super sweaty. But, the principle is the same. Feeling trapped indoors, cabin fever, whatever you want to call it.

There wasn't really a point to this post beyond me sharing my frustration with summer break. I remember it as a kid and a teen. I worked at a community pool and thought it was the best time ever! But now as an adult, it's the pits. I despise summer break. Here's to hoping I don't go off the deep end with two kids, too few activities and far too much heat. Who's ready for fall with me?!

10 comments:

  1. well i'm not a caregiver or mom buuuuuuut i hate summer break! mainly because my husband and best friend are off and they are like come to the pool or KC is like all happy I'm home and I'm like gosh darn it, I just want to sit on my butt on the couch lol. Plus it's super hard to get up in the morning and go to the gym when he's not getting up! i always thought it would be somewhat easier when we have kids i'm staying home... but we'll see. then again, KY does not get anywhere near as hot as where you live so maybe it won't be that bad ;) that picture of Henry from last 4th of July is too cute. those cheeks!

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  2. Oh I hate the oppressive Texas heat, its not even worth going outside. Today I was sweating with the humidity of just getting E in the carseat. UGH

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  3. I kind of love summer, but for all the opposite reasons you hate it: I live in a college town which means it's empty in the summer, Growing up here made me immune to the heat (?) so I don't mind the oppressive sauna, and I'm riding solo in my car 90% of the time...

    That said, I totallllly understand why you hate it. I would too if I were in your position. They need to have summer programs for kids. What about the kids that have 2 working parents? What do they do? I can imagine care during the summer could get super expensive super quickly.

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  4. I kind of love summer, but for all the opposite reasons you hate it: I live in a college town which means it's empty in the summer, Growing up here made me immune to the heat (?) so I don't mind the oppressive sauna, and I'm riding solo in my car 90% of the time...

    That said, I totallllly understand why you hate it. I would too if I were in your position. They need to have summer programs for kids. What about the kids that have 2 working parents? What do they do? I can imagine care during the summer could get super expensive super quickly.

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  5. Oh, I have been there and it's actually what I blogged about this week. My kids are older now - 9 & 12 - so it is a little different. The end of the school year is so packed that I look forward to summer just so we aren't constantly going to a zillion things. Then a few weeks into summer when the kids are always bored/crying/fighting, it's easy to spiral into stress and start hating summer. I think the best thing to do is connect with a few other moms and plan playdates. The kids get something to do and you can talk to another adult!

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  6. As a teacher and a mom, I'm so looking forward to summer break. Its the one time of the year that I don't have the stress of dealing with teaching and grading, and I don't have to feel guilty about taking time away from being with my son in order to focus on the needs of my job, especially grading, when I'm at home. I'm looking forward to the weeks at home when I can just focus on him and none of the stress associated with being a teacher.

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  7. Oh yes, I used to hate summer when I was in grade school because I felt so cooped up at home. Summer would always start strong with a trip somewhere, but then when we were back it was the same old... and we had a long 2 months ahead. My mom put us in swimming lessons and other extracurricular activities (typical indian mom), so sometimes it never felt like summer too haha.

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  8. I think every school district should have year round school like they do in some areas. You go like 6 weeks then get a week or two off. Plus it helps kids with continued learning and no large break. I love summer in Seattle because it's perfection! 80 degrees all the time, with only a few weeks of high heat.

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  9. I was reading this and thinking about that Staples commercial where the mom is like giddy throwing school supplies in the cart because the kids are finally going back to school. I always went year round when I was in college and personally think the younger kids should as well. I think a good solid two weeks off is good and then get right back to it with a few breaks spread out amongst the year.

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