Surviving the Madness of the Summer Schedule

Disclosure :: This content is sponsored by Post Consumer Brands, but the commentary is 100% genuine.

As a mom of four, life is hectic. And, by the time May rolls around, life enters a whole new level of chaos. Between soccer, baseball, swimming, and other activities, Monday-Thursday evenings are maxed out. Many of those nights, work bags are exchanged for sports bags, and we head out the door within five minutes of entering. 

Let’s talk about those early games. The ones that start between 5:00 and 5:30. They are a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you may have to leave work a bit early and there is zero time for dinner, but on the other hand, you may actually get the kids to bed on time! These nights, a bowl of cereal is a regular in our dinner rotation. I know the kids (and adults) like it, and it’s quick and easy. Some of our faves include Honey Bunches of Oats®, Honeycomb®, and Fruity Pebbles®.  (Side note: In a cooking rut in general? You’ll be amazed at the variety of recipes found here.)

And, we can’t forget about the spectators. For example, when my daughter is on the soccer field, her three brothers are sitting on the sidelines. In a perfect world, they’d be focused on the game and cheering for their sister’s team, but reality is a much different story. Keeping them occupied often requires food. Snack-sized bags filled with cereal are always in my game bag as a go-to snack.

      Left :: Playing hard!                            Middle :: Sidelines Reality                   Right :: Precious memories

The madness of summer schedules sometimes makes you question if it’s worth it. Then you look at your child’s face, and it’s lit up. Personally, watching six and seven-year-olds on the soccer field is fun. Sometimes they dribble the ball down the wrong end of the field, or they are more focused on the airplane flying above than the game, or sometimes they give you a wave full of excitement from midfield. Yes, these moments can be frustrating for parents, but then it hits you like a ton of bricks – time is fleeting. I am in a stage with my kids where I know it won’t be this pure and carefree for long. Cherish it. If your child is having fun, it’s worth it. 

Original post by Ruth on 5/24/18