Summer Survival Tips – School’s OUT!

WOAH.  We are half way into May.  Summer is LESS THAN ONE WEEK away for my kiddos!  Here are my summer survival tips to ensure it’s packed with fun!

Boo’s Summer Series

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If you don’t know much about me, I’m Susie Pea’s oldest.  My name is Brooke (AKA Boo) and I have four sweet babies (two-thirds of the sweet peas you’ve read about).  They consist of a first grader, a three-days-a-week prekinder, and two littles with me at home, all day, every day. 

As crazy as I know it will inevitably be, summer is about to make my life a whole lot easier in many ways. And if I do the right prep work, it can stay that way!  I know you stay at home moms of school aged kiddos feel me right now…

Join me over the next two weeks for
INSIDER TIPS for surviving summer and making it AWESOME as I guest blog for Susie Pea’s!

Summer Survival Tips

BEFORE WE BEGIN with number one…LETS TAKE CARE OF NUMERO UNO.  Treat yo’ self!  We’ve heard it a thousand times, but when will we listen, Mommas??  You can’t take care of your tribe until you take care of yourself!!!  Consider doing some of the things below before summer starts for your own joy!!!

⦁ Set a routine for YOURSELF.  Rise early in the morning, have some quiet time, set aside time for chores and errands, exercise, tidy up and get ready for the next day, get to bed early, etc.  Don’t do what I tell you you should do, do what puts your mind and heart at peace!

⦁ Shower. For the love of GOD.  I like to “wash the day away” and take my showers after bedtime.  No littles running in to tattle or have me braid Barbie hair or wipe their nose… I put on some tunes or pray or think about my to do list…

⦁ Get out of your PJ’s!  Put on something you feel GOOD in. If you don’t have things in your closet that make you feel happy, get thrifty!!!  My mom, sister, and I love a good secondhand store.  Read more about our favorites in STL and how we “Shop the Look!”

⦁ Throw on some Makeup.  Just a tad.  I like to give my eyes a little love in the AM.  “Fake it ‘til you make it.”  ‘Cuz at least they won’t LOOK exhausted.

More Survival Tips

⦁ Take care of your health…Exercise.  Meal Prep.  Drink LOTS OF H2O!!!  I’ve lost 15 lbs. in 3 months on (kind of) KETO!!!  My mom is so much more disciplined than I am, but cutting carbs and sugar has been EASIER THAN I COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED and I feel incredible.  Seriously.  I HATE DIETING AND EXERCISING.  I’m just making better choices!  And I haven’t looked at myself in the mirror this way since before baby #1. Check out my mom’s keto journey and start living a healthier life IMMEDIATELY.

⦁ Get organized.  Tidy spaces create serenity in our minds and souls!  I’m CLEARLY putting this on my GOALS list for the summer ‘cuz I suck at this…

⦁ Designate some quiet time during the day for yourself.  It’s good for grown ups, too!  Try to plan for it in the morning when the house is asleep, in the afternoon so you can recharge your battery for the evening ahead, and after bed time! Don’t you dare look at that to-do list.  Did you put this in your routine we just talked about?  ‘Cuz ya need to. The next three bullet points are full of great quiet time activities!

⦁ Read some good books.  Listen to some good podcasts.  Grow your mind! Here are the titles I’m diving into this summer…

⦁ Recharge with a cup of afternoon tea (or coffee or a glass of lemonade or a shot of tequila…jk…or am I?? *great survival tip*).

⦁ Get summer ready!  Haircut, cute swimsuit (what about this ROMPER?!), new baseball cap and sunglasses, tanning lotion, lip gloss, bath bombs, face masks, fingernail polish! Buy some fun beauty products on the cheap!  NOW USE THEM!

Now here we go…My “Baker’s Dozen” of To-do’s before the last school bell rings!!!

Summer To-Do List

1. SET ROUTINES.  Weekly, Daily, HOURLY.  Schedules that you can see and that the kids can see as well.

2. CREATE A SYSTEM FOR CHORES, BEHAVIOR, & REWARDS.  Practice your MOM VOICE, Y’ALL.

3. SIGN UP FOR ACTIVITIES! Library Summer Reading, Summer Camps, Vacation Bible School, Sports Camps, Sports Teams, Etc.

4. #GOALS. For everyone!  Learning.  Development.  Character.

5. EDUCATE.  Keep their little minds working all summer long

6. READ!!! OMGOODNESS.  READ.  Get to your local library.  Sign up for summer reading!  Make it FUN!  And please, please, please LET THEM SEE YOU READING!

7. QUIET TIME IS IMPORTANT. Set it each day.  Don’t skip it or they’ll remember.  Then those little manipulators will try to get you to skip it every day!  

8. LIMIT SCREEN TIME.  FOR REAL THIS TIME.  Set a rule.  Make it safe.  Don’t be lazy. 

9. Do some RAOK! Okay, I’m totally not cool enough to use that acronym…OR MAYBE I’M TOO COOL TO USE IT!  I’m talking about Random Acts of Kindness.  Spark some JOY!!!

10. OUTINGS! Parks, Zoo, Pool, Movies, Play Dates!  VISIT GRANDMA!!!

11. HAVE FUN AT HOME, TOO!  Backyard Exploring, Exercising, Arts & Crafts, Gardening! PLAY IN THE HOSE! Pajamas and Movie Marathon Day!!!

12. RAINY DAYS ARE FOR TRADITIONS!  Think of a fun tradition to do each time the skies are gray. 

13. THE SNUGGLE IS REAL.  Make time for each kiddo to have their own “snuggle night.” 

Summer Fun with These Sweet Peas

I’m excited to spend the next two weeks with you!!! If you want to find out more about how I’m implementing each of these lovely ideas (survival tips), starting with my daily routines and schedules, check back tomorrow! ~Boo

Just incase you missed it, here are some fun things to do this summer –