During the Summer, I’m a “Yes” Mom

I made the decision, back when I was a brand-new mom, that during the summer months, I would always be the “yes” mom. I won’t ever change that! Growing up, I remember summers being the absolute best. Hours at the beach, swimming at my grandparent’s house, sleepovers with friends, our annual vacation to the Jersey Shore. It all just felt so carefree and fun.

Fast forward to adulthood; with a career in education, I still have summers off, and they are my most favorite months. Between September through May, I run a pretty tight ship. We have no choice but to be on a strict schedule.

My husband and I both work an extra job to fund the numerous activities we keep the kids involved in. Our fall through spring schedule includes sports, swim, multiple dance classes, and art lessons. We think it is important to stay busy and cultivate the kids’ talents and interests.

With so much going on, there are not a lot of opportunities to say, “yes.” Bedtime is strict, wake up time is also strict, meals are planned out in advance, and I have specific days (that I write down in my calendar) when we’ll do laundry, straighten up, and grocery shop. Even during the pandemic, our schedule, though it all took place at home, remained busy. During the summer, all bets are off. During the summers, I am the “yes” mom, and I always will be.

This does not mean that we don’t have any rules, and it doesn’t mean that we are spending money without care; it does mean that we do not follow a schedule. We make our plans for each day as we go. It means I say yes to ice cream as a meal; I say yes to an extra couple hours with a friend; I say yes to jumping in the pool with clothes on, to staying up past bedtime, and yes to the days everyone wants to stay in pajamas.

Our summer months are filled with day trips and mini-vacations. They are filled with so many adventures!

The reason it is important to me to be the “yes” mom during the sweet ten weeks of summer vacation is two-fold. One, we all need the time to decompress. Strict schedules are great, but everyone needs an occasional break. As a high school teacher, the end of the school year is intense. I am sure there are a few of you out there who totally understand that end of the school year Teacher Mom exhaustion! And, two, I want my kids to have fond summer memories like mine! Whether we choose camps or it is me leading the way on summer fun activities, I want them to remember the times I said, “yes” when they thought they might get a no!

How do you spend your summers? Do you keep a strict schedule, or get spontaneous?