The end of the school year brings many emotions. I am just now encountering these feelings since my oldest is finishing kindergarten. These feelings can be overwhelming and hard to contain.
Calendar overload – When the school year comes to an end there are so many activities that happen all at once: coordinating the end of year gifts for the teachers, attending programs, preparing for parties, field trips, the list is endless. All these events happen within a two week timeframe that overloads the calendar. I have realized the month of May will be dedicated to end of school year activities and to not plan any extra family events during this time. It’s not only overwhelming for us when we feel constantly busy, but it’s taxing for our children as well.
Emotional overload – When I think about the end of the school year, I think about how my baby is growing up and next year she will be that much older. All she can think about is “Yay! Next year I will be another year older.” How is it that we try to hold on to the years while they wish them away? I now understand when people would tell me, “Once your children start school, in a blink of an eye they are leaving for college.” It certainly doesn’t help the emotions when looking through yearbooks or other items that encompass the full year. I see evidence of how much my child has grown.
Boredom overload – Now that the school year is coming to a close, it’s on to planning summer events. There are so many summer activities around the metro to take advantage of that are cost effective and can curb the feeling of boredom for your child.
- Local library and bookstore story times. There are story times offered for different age groups that can encourage summer reading as well as keep your child entertained.
- Spraygrounds for a chance to cool off and play (the good news is that parents are not required to don a swimsuit as well). Here is a list of the Oklahoma City splash pads. Also to think about, they make great summer birthday locations.
- YMCA swim and play time (Moms can get in a little workout too).
- For more ideas, we have a comprehensive list of VBS, summer camps and activities to learn or enhance the various interests of your child. (Summer Guide)
As the school year comes to an end, the summer fun is just beginning. Cherish the memories of the past year and look forward to many more exciting adventures to come.
How do you prepare for the summer break?