The dog days of summer are upon us and with that brings bored kids, frustrated moms and endless hours of television. Why not make this summer different? Cool off with the creative tips and suggestions offered by Mom and Loving It! co-author Sharon Lovejoy Autry. She's compiled a list of low-cost summer ideas that will have kids and parents wishing the summer would never end.
Summer Survival Tips for Moms
(and Gramma's too)!
Saved By the Bell
A Summer to Remember
Sharon Lovejoy Autry
The final bell rang. The kids screamed for joy. Mom sits in the carpool line wondering, "What in the world are we going to do all summer?!"
Maybe as summer has begun, you've found yourself resentful and angry because your children constantly "interrupt" your schedule. If that's how you're feeling, you're normal.
But, wait. We wanted these kids, right? Are they really interruptions or blessings in disguise? How can we move from simply surviving the summer to making it a summer to remember?
Here are a few ideas to get you out of the summer survival rut:
1. Realize they won't be this way forever. What is it about your kids that you won't have in two years? If you are a parent of:
Preschoolers: Look at their hands and notice how tiny they are. Enjoy that.
Elementary children: When you're away from home, call them. Their voices sound small on the phone. That always reminds me to enjoy their innocence rather than expecting them to act like little grown-ups.
Tweens: Laugh at and enjoy their giggles (usually girls) and the fascination they have with being gross (usually boys)! Hopefully that won't last forever!
Teens: Even if they are driving you crazy, make your home the safe place. I still remember the fun place our parents created at home. It was our refuge. Let kids feel safe in your home by cutting down on the criticism and looking for ways to build them up. Mom and Dad's secret was a ping-pong table. We spent hours there.
2. Say "no" with a smile. It makes you and your child feel better. They know you have some regret at having to say no. You are on their team.
3. Play music. Anger and music don't usually dance. Movie soundtracks, praise songs, music from my teen years or even classical stations. I rarely find myself upset with my kids when we have music playing in the background.
4. Go outside. Sometimes taking a walk or bike ride with the kids can do wonders to change everyone's perspective.
5. Things aren't always as they seem. Remember that the way you are seeing things at this moment is probably not how it will look in a couple of hours. Frustrations can build and dissolve quickly when you have kids.
6. Offer them 30 minutes of your time. After they have helped pick up around the house let them pick what the two of you will do together and watch their eyes light up! For older kids, offer them the day off after helping for an hour.
7. Ask your kids what they think is fun. You might be surprised to find that their idea of fun often doesn't cost any money. My sister was amazed to find that her 7-year-old son's idea of "fun" was playing tag in the front yard with dad, mom and his little sister.
8. Slow down. Successful parenting doesn't mean you have your children involved in every possible extra-curricular activity. Successful parenting means you are there for them. If you've been running all year, it takes "practice" to enjoy staying home. Don't give up. Turn off the computer, TV, cell phone, etc. and read or play games (no matter what the age of your children).
9. Pray. When you are at your wit's end, ask God to help you remember what to do with your kids. On our own, it's hard to enjoy the moments because "life happens." But God has a way of giving us perspective that will slow us down and help us see our families the way He sees them: with love and compassion.
The next time you blow your top or realize you're just surviving your kids instead of enjoying their clumsy feet, silliness, or their constant desire to talk on the phone, stop and think, "one day I'll miss this!" The funny thing is, tomorrow we'll be longing for today. If we choose to think like that long enough, the kids won't be the only ones sad to hear the school bell ring this fall.
Sharon (Lovejoy) Autry, a mom of 3, co-authored Mom and Loving It, Finding Contentment in REAL Life with her sister, Laurie (Lovejoy) Hilliard, mom of 4.
Visit their web site below for more tips and encouragement!
I'll be back soon! 
The view here is from the hill top of Oregon City and very near our place of business. The picture was taken about 3 in the afternoon.
This picture was taken in the morning during my walk! The sun had been up for about two hours and the mountain was shrowded slightly by a cloud.
After taking the mountain picture I turned to continue walking, looked up and caught this snap of a Mrs. Robin! She was singing a song that offered great promise for the day!
Here's a close up and a great pose for a watercolor painting! 
Thank you, Tracy!
For those of you who live elsewhere I thought you might like to do a little comparison pricing. If you want to have a shipment sent to your home, wherever you live, you'll have a good idea of the cost vs gas price for driving around looking of these things.
And finally....here is the salad I made using, light bulgur wheat, from Pink Purls "In the Kitchen" recipe...London Memories Salad. Mine doesn't look nearly as nice as hers but it is delicious and worth making. Go to her blog Pink Purl and check out all of her recipes while getting the recipe for this salad.
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