Summer is supposed to be all about relaxing and finally spending more family time together right? So why are the bags under my eyes bigger than ever and, for the life of me, can I not keep our schedule straight?!
Why? Because summer is a bit of a pipe dream. Yes, the weather is great and you don’t have to worry about getting up for school in the morning. But usually you also have a lot less child care and a much less predictable schedule thanks to a different camp or family trip from one week to the next.
This being my 9th summer as a mom, though, I’ve learned a few things and today I’m here to drop some of that wisdom on you. Here are my top 3 tips for freeing up more time for summer fun…
#1 Cut Back on the Shopping Trips
A lot of people shy away from buying bulk goods in the summer because they know they won’t be home as much. This strategy makes sense for produce and other things that spoil but for everything else, I say buy in bulk when you can so you can spend your time in the sun instead of in a store.
For example, have you seen Cottonelle’s Clean Care Mega Roll Toilet Paper? They have a crazy four times more sheets per roll – meaning if you normally change the roll once a week, you’ll now only have to do it once a month!
We already have 5 people using up toilet paper in our house- add to that all the families coming over to hang out during the summer and this can actually be a huge time saver for us. (Not to mention it’s less embarrassing for everyone when your guests don’t have to coming asking you for toilet paper.)
#2 Use the Jar System
I’ve never been too crazy about offering kids rewards for good behavior; preferring to emphasize the intrinsic rewards of doing a good job instead.
This summer, though, it just felt like it couldn’t be avoided. My oldest two kids are currently 7 and almost 9, ages where they’re not used to being around each other all day and – frankly – are prone to bickering.
I could tell by day one of summer vacation that I needed an action plan to deal the sibling fighting, as well getting anything beyond playing referee done.
That’s when not one, but two of my mom friends told me how well the marble jar was going over in their house. The concept is very simple. The kids get a marble in the jar whenever they are being helpful or are “caught” doing something good. How they cash in those marbles is up to you.
One of my friends trades them directly for money. In our house, the marbles are each worth 5 minutes of screen time (to be used when Mom or Dad says it’s a good time). In some houses each kid gets their own jar. In our house, all kids benefit from anyone earning a marble as a way to build a collaborative spirit.
One of the best ways to earn marbles?
By doing small jobs around the house and yard – and all three of my kids get in on the action. In fact, filling up the toilet paper holders in each of our bathrooms with those Cottonelle’s Clean Care Mega Roll is the perfect job for my 3-year-old.
He has a real sense of accomplishment when he’s completed the task and he absolutely beams when his brother and sister praise him for doing so (which they always do because he’s earning them 5 additional minutes of screen-time too).
#3 Use a Grocery Pick-Up Service
Another huge time saver I’ve found is the Walmart Grocery Pick Up.. I’ve never tried this type of service before because I was afraid it would be prohibitively expensive but when I heard Walmart offered it, I knew it would be cheap – it’s Walmart!
Sure enough, you can order fresh groceries online with Walmart and enjoy the same in-store savings with free pickup. The groceries are bagged and ready to go and they’ll even load them in your car for you.
Click here to see if it’s available in your area!
One final hint: As hard as it is to keep to a schedule during the summer, try to stick to a grocery shopping routine. It’s so easy to get swept up playing in the park or on the beach, only to realize you have absolutely no plan for dinner when six o’clock rolls around. If you stick to a regular night for meal planning and shopping just like during the school year you won’t regret it.
Get Your Free Printable
Subscribe to our newsletter today and get our free printable... No More, "Mom, I'm Bored!"