The author (not pictured) said she has one goal for her family this summer: to do less.
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I'm about to experience my 17th summer as a mom, and I think I've finally learned my lesson. Having four kids can be overwhelming and chaotic, especially given their different abilities, personalities, ages, and preferred extracurriculars. Despite the number of kids I have, I am determined to have a low-key summer with them.I fully recognize the privilege I have. I teach college writing classes in fall and spring, with the perk of having summers off. My kids don't go to day care or camp, nor do they stay home alone while I'm working. Though this can give us some freedom, it also means that I am in charge of planning our kids' summer activities — all of them.Being an always-on-the-go family simply doesn't allow our nervous systems to reset. We have had a very challenging past five or so years as a family. I fought breast cancer, three of my kids became teenagers, and we've faced multiple other health issues. We are tired, to say the least.Despite my vowing that "less is more," summer after summer, I've found myself roped into a jam-packed calendar. After all, the newness of summer wears off during the first few weeks, and nothing can drive a parent more bonkers than a kid whining that they are "soooo bored." Striking a balance, especially with so many kids, can be overwhelmingly challenging, but I think I've nailed down a plan that may actually work.
