The end of this school year has screamed by like a Jet Ski stuck at full throttle. Sucked under the wake of a busy schedule, I’m ready to get off this ride and slow down. I’m feeling frazzled and need to refresh my mom-i-tude so I can enjoy this summer with my family.
Juggling schedules and sports, homework and the countless things that mom’s do in a day, it’s easy to feel exhausted by the end of the school year.When busyness crescendos into chaos, frantic moms can feel a little nuts. I’ve been there, and I’ve had days when I was camped out next to crazy.
- Crazy to let my kids sign up for yet another travel sports team…
- Crazy to volunteer to head up the end of the year fundraiser for school…
- Crazy to commit to a schedule I can’t keep…
What do you do when you’re camped out next to crazy and frantic days rob you of joy? Take time to refresh your energy as the summer gets under way. A little re-charge can freshen your attitude and energy to make the most of summer days with kids.
4 ways to refresh your mom-i-tude this summer.
1. Take a deep breath and get a little perspective.
It’s easy to loose perspective when you’re exhausted by the grind. Summer is a good time to slow down and take a deep breath of the soul. Ask God to renew your perspective. Seek His plan to settle your soul. Remember that childhood passes quickly in 18 summers. The days may seem long, but the years are short. The mom-i-tude things that frazzle you today will not last forever.
2. Remember you are not alone.
It’s easy to feel isolated when over-commitment keeps us from spending time with friends. Plan a time to meet with a friend and do something fun. Team up for a visit to the pool or plan a trip to the zoo. While the kids have fun, let adult conversation remind you that you are not alone.
3. Slow down and make time for rest.
Block off some white space on your summer calendar. Plan for down time and build margin into your day this summer. Enforce a quiet reading hour each afternoon, hire a teenage helper to play with the kids, and don’t let bedtime get too late with the summer schedule.
4. Pay attention to your need for a spiritual recharge.
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.–Psalm 23:1-3 NLT
Running on empty can cause a spiritual deplete that lowers our threshold for handling stress. Feed your soul with God’s word for spiritual refreshment. Resist the temptation to take a vacation from spiritual growth. Summer days filled with children’s activities can make it challenging to find quiet moments with God.
Refresh your mom-i-tude and get ready to enjoy fun summer days with your family. What’s your favorite way to re-energize at the end of the school year?
Ginger, this is so important to remember when we are feeling depleted from being mothers. I know I have days where I hit the wall and have no energy left, but I remember what you say about adjusting the attitude and keeping things in perspective. Time does fly by with these beautiful blessings-that challenge me greatly! 🙂
Great post, Ginger. I remember those days! Time flies so quickly. It behooves us to make the most of every opportunity, especially when it comes to our little ones. 🙂