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the best summer survival guide for young moms

summer survival guide for moms

Summer is officially here! If you’re a mom, I bet that you just let out a giant exhale after reading that sentence. I don’t know about you, but I think I aged about 5 years over the past few months. Quarantine was not for the faint of heart my friends. From helping the kids finish school, figuring out the balancing act of two parents working from home, keeping up with normal mom duties, and trying to squeeze in some “me” time here and there, it’s been a lot. But quarantine is done (for now), and summer is finally here!

Summer has always symbolized a break from the craziness of life. A time to slow down and a time to enjoy time outdoors with family and friends. It’s not shocking though that a break from our current climate feels especially needed this year.

summer survival guide for moms

For me, “surviving” summer is a perfect mix of kid activities and time alone. I learned quite a bit from sheltering-in-place that I will no doubt carry on into summer. One of those things is being more creative with my activities with the girls. The other thing that I have realized is that my personal health (physical and mental) directly affects the health of my family. So, making time for me whether that’s working out or reading a book is just as beneficial as time with my girls.

As I plan out and set intentions for our summer, I have been cognizant of the activities we’ll be doing and what we are investing our time in. I want to create space for effortless activities that spark our creativity and leave us feeling joyful. I also want to create space for rest, reading, and connecting whether that’s time alone or intentional time together. I also want our wardrobes to reflect our intentions. I want our wardrobes to be functional, comfortable, and versatile.

I’m sure you’ve all seen that over the past few months I have started making capsule wardrobes. I love the idea of investing in well-made pieces that are versatile and can be worn over and over again in multiple ways! I also like to have several pieces of clothing I can wear all summer long, I also like to invest in several pairs of shoes that I can wear all throughout the summer. Shoes that are well-made, comfortable, and allow me to do all the summer activities I need to do to survive the summer!

summer survival guide for moms

As I started researching which shoes I would need for the summer, I went to Famous Footwear in hopes of a one-stop-shop. Luckily, I found exactly what I needed! I first wanted a summer sandal that would go with everything and be comfortable enough to wear all throughout the day. I found this sandal and loved it’s neutral summer vibe. I love that these sandals are casual enough to wear with denim shorts and a top while running around with my girls. I can also easily slip them on with a breezy summer dress and wear them out to dinner with my husband. Oh, and did I mention they’re less than $30?

I also wanted to find a sneaker. Since quarantine we’ve started taking nightly family walks and it’s something we want to continue on into the summer. I also use working out as an outlet for me and a way to get some “me time.” I’ve been wanting some new nikes for low resistance workouts, but have not wanted to spend a ton of money on them. Then I found this pair from Famous Footwear for under $75 and couldn’t resist them!

I’ve already been wearing them both for weeks and I can tell I will be wearing them for months to come. Heck, I’m wearing the sandals as I sit here and type this post right now!

summer survival guide for momssummer survival guide for moms

summer survival guide for young moms

WITH KIDS:

  • water toys – with pools being closed or having weird hours, we’ve upped our water toy game at home. Things like blow up pools or unicorns that spray water make outdoor play so much more fun in the summer!
  • outdoor time – thanks to quarantine, we’ve learned to spend a lot more time outdoors. Whether it’s family walks in our neighborhood or hiking local trails in Dallas, spending time outdoors keeps our energy and morale high!
  • quiet time – as fun as playtime is, quiet time is equally as important to surviving summer. My girls have outgrown the nap phase, but I still require them to read or lay down quietly for an hour each day. This gives them a chance to rest their bodies and it gives me a chance to catch up on work or read as well!
  • game nights – institute a weekly game night and you’ll be surprised how much your kids look forward to it! We created a shelf that the girls can reach full of all their games so they can take the lead on game night. Some of our favorites are Trouble and Bingo!
  • summer crafts – summer days can feel long when you’re still not fully immersed back into society, so I’m challenging myself to come up with one craft a week my girls can do. It doesn’t have to be hard, just something to spark creativity and conversation.
  • get out of the city – this one may be hard for some given the current climate, but I highly recommend traveling at least once in the summer. It gives everyone something to look forward to and it’s nice to get away from the day-to-day! This summer we spent a week at my parents’ lake house and we’re looking forward to camping in Colorado in July!
  • popsicle happy hour – this was another thing we implemented during quarantine and plan to carry into summer! Every afternoon around 3 we stop whatever we’re doing and have popsicles in the backyard. The girls love it and we always end up spending more time talking and laughing!

WITHOUT KIDS:

  • working out – this is one of the best ways for me to release any pent-up emotions and it’s how I stay physically fit. Make your workouts a priority, even if that means working out before our kids are awake!
  • long walks – this has been one of the best things for my mental health. I started walking during quarantine and now it’s simply part of my morning routine. Whether I’m walking alone and listening to a podcast or walking with a friend, it’s beneficial both physically and mentally.
  • reading – reading is a great way to take your mind off the daily to-do list, the craziness of parenting, and off social media. I try to read 30 minutes a day whether that’s during afternoon reading time with my girls, or by myself with a glass of wine on the back porch.
  • time in the kitchen – whether it’s making cocktails with my husband, learning how to brew cold coffee or baking bread, time in the kitchen is such a nice outlet. It allows you space to be creative and try new things!

What are some of your survival tips for summer? I would like to hear from you! If you need some shoes to get you through these next few months, I highly recommend checking out Famous Footwear – you can’t beat the price or the wide range or styles!

This post was created in collaboration with Famous Footwear. All shoe selections and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting those brands that support Fleurdille.

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