159. Summer Mom Survival: Can I Admit I'm Ready for School to Start?

Summer is supposed to be magical, right?

Lazy mornings. Family adventures. Beach days. Pool days. Popsicles. Making memories with our kids.

So why do so many of us find ourselves counting down the days until school starts?

In this episode of Burnt Pancakes: Momversations, I'm getting real about the less glamorous side of being a summer mom. I had visions of creating this amazing, carefree summer with my boys, but the reality has been a little different. I'm tired. I'm overstimulated. I'm spending a fortune on snacks. My house is constantly messy, and I feel like I'm saying the same things over and over again.

"Close the door!"

"Flush the toilet!"

"No, you can't have a snack. We just had breakfast!"

"Get off the video game!"

"Go outside and play!"

"Stop bothering your brother!"

And then there's the complicated part of wanting my kids to have the freedom to just go outside and be kids, while also worrying about neighbors, accidents, arguments and whether they're bothering anyone.

I'll share a story about my boys riding bikes in the neighborhood, a situation where a neighborhood kid got hurt while playing with my kids, and the guilt and anxiety that followed—even though it was an accident.

I'm also talking about the pressure to keep kids academically engaged over the summer, my attempt at summer schoolwork that quickly became a battle, the never-ending snacks and grocery bills, screen-time struggles, preteen attitudes, sibling fighting, and the guilt I feel when I admit that sometimes...

I just want school to start.

Because maybe we can love our kids, cherish these years and appreciate summer while also admitting that we're exhausted.

In this episode, we talk about:

•  The summer we imagine vs. the summer we actually experience 
•  The endless snacks and grocery bills 
•  The constant noise and overstimulation 
•  The never-ending summer mess 
•  Parenting preteens during summer break 
•  The things moms say on repeat all summer 
•  The constant battle over screens and video games 
•  Wanting our kids to go outside and play—but worrying about neighbors and accidents 
•  The guilt that comes when another child gets hurt while playing with our kids 
•  Why giving older kids freedom can still come with a huge mental load 
•  The pressure to make summer educational 
•  Why I gave up on summer schoolwork 
•  Feeling guilty for wishing school would start 
•  Why loving summer and being exhausted by summer can both be true 
•  Letting go of the pressure to create the "perfect" summer

📺 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOpw5ui4uxJHx0tLFVtpnfSkpObfc4d-K

You can find Katie at:
website: burntpancakes.com
YouTube: @burnt.pancakes
Instagram: @burntpancakeswithkatie
Email: katie@burntpancakes.com

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