If you’re anything like me, right about now the reality is hitting you – Summer. Is. Here.

Truth be told, I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with summer. In theory, it’s fantastic – fewer commitments, less stress, and opportunities to travel and enjoy my children. In reality, however, its not all fabulous trips and lazy summer days. It can be discombobulating – I don’t know what day it is. My children get on each other’s nerves, and mine. And getting work done is hard (case in point, I’m writing this blog and it’s almost midnight!).

When I start to feel summer stress, I do well to remember to do these few things:

1. Adjust Your Expectations. Expect that things are going to move slower and take longer. Kids are underfoot! Efficiencies that exist when your children are in school may go out the window in the summertime. Allow for this to keep frustration to a minimum.
2. Keep A Schedule. As tempting as it is to just go with the flow every day because you can, everyone will do better if you keep to a schedule, even a loose one. A little bit of structure goes a long way.
3. But Don’t Be Afraid to Throw the Schedule Out the Window. Some of the best memories are made when you deviate from the norm – stay up super late binge watching Netflix with your teenagers, take an impromptu weekend trip out of town, have ice cream for breakfast. Yes. You can. It’s summer.
4. Use Your Village. Friends, family members, babysitters, drivers. Use them! Lean on them and help each other out. You will need it.
5. Let Go of the Guilt. You may have to work more than you would like. There may be weeks where you have to put your kids in a camp just because you need a break. It’s ok. Your kids will survive. And oh by the way, they may need a break from you, too.

Enjoy your summer, friends!

Want to know a little secret? Summer is not, well, pleasant for me.

Don’t get me wrong! I love spending extra time with my children, the vacations, hanging with out of town visitors among other things.

Working parents have several balls in the air during the school year. When summer comes, those spherical objects spin and a multiply. Heck ~ I dream about them.

In addition to keeping my family’s schedule straight, as a small business owner, I am also managing my team’s vacation schedule and filling in the gaps where needed. Even rockers need vacations!

Here are some things for working parents to rely on during the month of August:

1. Camps – Even if it is one from 1-4 p.m., sign that boy or girl up.
2. Helpers – Full time babysitters, part time college helpers, couldn’t get through this chaos without them. I have three and only two kids. No joke.
3. Friends – Ditto. They help with the shuttle to and fro, the additional activities to keep the kiddos entertained and they are your go to for that much needed GNO.
4. Family members – Make the call. Most often than not, they want to help and spend time with your children without you around.
5. Your colleagues – Amazing how helpful they can be in a pinch if you just ask.
6. Exercise – It changes your mood and increases metabolism.
7. Mindless activity – Read a trashy novel, do the dishes, watch TV ~ I am currently obsessed with The Good Wife and watch an episode every night before I say nigh nigh. Already plowed through these this summer: Homeland, House of Cards, Revenge and Scandal. Started on episode one, season one on all of them.
8. Positive thinking – Think half full. Always. Being an optimist reduces your stress and is better for your overall health and well being.
9. Healthy eating – How do you feel after eating fast food? Nuff said.
10. Sleep – It is non-negotiable. We need seven to nine hours to be productive.
11. Music – It can have a powerful effect on mind and body far beyond its ability to promote relaxation and stress relief according to Dr. Andrew Weil.
12. To do list (Mine is a ta da list) – Hit the ground running in the mornings with focus and a list of tasks at hand. Here’s a great article to how to make yours effective.

Only a couple of weeks before school starts. You can do it!