Does the sound of summer give you a small feeling of panic and dread? Do thoughts such as, “What will I do with my children” and “How will I stay connected to other moms” fill your mind?
Summertime can be a time of isolation, with too much freedom, lack of structure, and the dreaded boredom that comes from too much time on our hands. If you are like most moms, you are seeking ways to connect with other moms over summer who you can share the experience with.
Start a Beach Club
One of the best ways to stay connected over summer is to visit the beach. It is a place for fun in the sun for kids and can be a place of camaraderie for the moms as well.
Rather than simply saying, “Let’s go to the beach over summer,” start your own beach club. Pick one day per week that works for everyone involved – even if it is very early on a weekend or even later in the evening. In fact, evening trips to the beach with a picnic will provide many benefits:
- It is not as hot
- You can get some things done at home during the day
- It is nowhere near as crowded
Once you have an agreed-upon date and time, have everyone pick an item to bring. For example, rather than bringing only what your kids like, have one person bring snacks, and another bring fruit, while another brings fun summer beverages like lemonade.
Afterward, take turns going back to each other’s homes. Alternate an ice cream party at one person’s home with a jump in the pool another week at another’s.
When you have a commitment and a plan, it makes it so much easier to keep your word.
Unusual Summer Educational Opportunities
More often than not, you will find a host of unusual educational opportunities if you do a little research in advance. There are so many wonderful summer educational activities:
- Fish hatcheries
- Nature preserves
- Farms
- Aquariums
And, most of these offer mom-and-child programs where you can interact with others.
Take a Lesson
Look into programs that offer mom-and-child lessons such as painting, swimming, dance, arts and crafts. The list is endless, but the point is if you want to connect with other moms, you need to join programs that offer opportunities for both mom and child.
Volunteer
There is no better way to connect with other human beings than to volunteer. A child is never too young to learn the benefits of giving back. Organize a beach clean-up or neighborhood yard sale, donating the benefits of the proceeds to a charity your children can relate to such as an animal adoption agency.
So, as you can see there are so many ways to connect with other moms while keeping your children busy and active over summer. This is a win/win situation all the way around.