1. Do what suits you and your family. There is
no one perfect way to have the best summer ever.
Some families like to have their schedules jam-
packed with trips and activities. Others prefer slow,
lazy days throughout the season. One big key to
enjoying summer is to do it your way without guilt.
If your family needs a slow summer, you shouldn’t
feel bad when you scroll through all those beach
and Disney photos. If you’re that family that’s busy
doing something every week, there’s no need to feel
like you’re stripping your kids of a slow and relaxed
vacation! You know your family best, and you know
what they need and what makes them happy, so just
design the best summer for your family and don’t
worry about what anyone else is doing.
2. Connection is what’s really important.
Whether you’re on the go or purposefully slow,
the main ingredient to a summer to remember is
connection. Being present and engaged with your
children is going to fill their cup, and the joyful
memories you make together will feel that much
more special to them because they feel so very loved
and connected to you. There are countless ways to
connect, and it’s useful to know your child’s love
language so that you can really speak directly to
their hearts. Here are some ideas: Offer lots of hugs
and cuddles. Make up a special secret handshake.
Give lots of verbal affirmations. Write notes, cards,
or letters to them. Read aloud. Play together. Send
them mail. Commit to at least 30 minutes per day to
give your child distraction-free attention and watch
the relationship blossom.
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