School's Almost Over as Working Moms Tremble
By Autumn Lew

If you're like me, you find yourself somewhere between euphoria and utter terror when thinking of summertime. It's wonderful that the care-free (kind of) summer days promise loads of fun. Yet, when you're a working mom, you are faced with the added challenge of "What do I do about the kids this summer?" thoughts that leave you feeling a bit uneasy. I have stay-at-home mom friends who talk about hanging in there till school's out so that their chaotic schedules will come to a welcomed close. Then they share plans of sleeping in weekdays and hanging out at the pool for days on end. Ahhhh....

I, on the other hand, experience the opposite feelings about the school year wrap-up. I feel that my carefully crafted school-year routine is about to collapse in shambles around me and want to cling to my kids' teachers skirts, crying "DON'T LEAVE ME!"

Don't get me wrong. I love summer--it's my favorite season! And I love all the summer fun things, like going to the pool, cook outs with friends, working in the garden, going for bike rides. But being a working mom means finding a way to meld the summertime fun into some semblance of a functioning work schedule too. My clients still need me (thankfully!) so I need to keep summer work hours while still helping to create a safe, event-filled time for the kids. My girls are going to a summer camp this year that lasts weekdays from 9am-4pm. I sure hope they enjoy it! They'll go to parks, the zoo, the pool...

I just wish I were going too! This is one of the compromises that comes with the working mom territory. But this year, I'm trying a new thing. I'm taking off Fridays at noon to go on "adventure days" with the kids. That's my plan anyway. As a working mom, what are some of the things you do to make summer work for your family? I would love to hear some ideas!

I hope that working moms out there find a way to find time away from your jobs--just a little bit. I hope that you are able to mix in some free time with the kids, find some moments to share together and make some memories. Perhaps you'll take that weekend away to a hotel on the other side of town--just to swim in the pool and get away from it all. Or maybe you'll take an afternoon or two off from work to surprise the kids with that trip to the new summer movie in 3-D or the ice cream shop for over-the-top banana splits with all the fixings! Whatever you do, my hopes are that you enjoy the time you DO have together! Let's make the most of our summers and the most of our time! After all, we're so blessed to have our kids for this short (yet long) time.

So blow up those floaties, scoop up the sundaes and bring on the fun!