Summer with my family is a time of the year like no other. When school is in session, we find ourselves extremely busy with full schedules and homework. Summer is a nice break from all that hustle and bustle. It’s a time to slow down and enjoy more family time.
Then again, summer brings its own challenges. School automatically provides time for my teenage daughter with special needs to be occupied and out of the house. During summer, I have to secure supervision for my daughter while I am not home because it is not safe for her to be left alone. There are rare opportunities for me to run errands or have appointments without her. My daughter recently tagged along with me for my mammogram. (She stayed in the changing room during the actual test). Such is the life of a parent of a child with special needs!
For years, I associated summer break with stress mostly due to the increase in time spent caregiving. I have learned some tricks in the past few years that have helped me stay mentally in a better place for a peaceful summer day.
Keep Routines that Work
During the school year, I get up 30-45 minutes before the children. I use this time to read my Bible, catch up on chores, and simply have quiet time in the house. It may be tempting to sleep in, which I do on occasion, but I feel more relaxed when I keep this routine. If there are routines at home that work well for me during the school year, I try to keep them in place during summer break.
Accept Easy Meals
Summer gives me the chance to cook and bake things I normally do not have the time or energy to create. There are times that I need to take it easy. My kids love canned spaghetti, pizza rolls, and all the easy things that require no cooking from me. I no longer feel bad about serving these “meals” occasionally.
Spend Time with Jesus
When routines are off and things become busy, it may be tempting to skip a devotion. I consider my time in the Bible as mandatory. It is a part of my daily routine that keeps me grounded and reminds me of what my priorities should be.
Photo credit: Nathan Anderson on Unsplash.com.
Enjoy Moments with your Child
Years ago, the strain of summer duties weighed on me. It was hard to find time for fun when I was busy caregiving. I felt tired and planning activities outside the home felt overwhelming. Now, with the strategies I have in place, I feel like I have more energy to create fun moments with my children. We may do something big such as a Cardinals baseball game or something small such as an evening spent visiting with extended family. Small but meaningful moments have been simply sitting on the porch swing together, making smores, or a golf cart ride around the yard. The time we spend together laughing, smiling, and connecting is rejuvenating.
I do not know how each of you feel about summer break. Perhaps you have never had any issues during summer and embrace everything that goes with it. Maybe you are where I was a few years ago. I had mixed emotions about summer and often ended the day exhausted. I am thankful I have found a place of balance where summer break does not feel so overwhelming. I am praying that each of you enjoy summer and have times to connect with your child with special needs.
Evana is a wife and mother of two children. She enjoys serving in her church’s special-needs ministry. Evana is also a pediatric speech-language pathologist and serves children with autism, feeding disorders, and other developmental delays. You can connect with Evana on Twitter, Facebook, and her blog, A Special Purposed Life. You can also read more about her family’s story in her book, Badges of Motherhood: One Mother’s Story about Family, Down syndrome, Hospitals, and Faith.
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