The Countdown to Summer Begins!
First of all, most of you, including students of all ages, teachers, school administration, school mental health teams, and parents, have already started the countdown to summer! When I see my clients I ask them how many days they have left. I have heard anywhere from 15 days to about a month. It is that time of the year….so close, yet so far away……then…… “School’s out For the Summer!” I believe that most pools will open in just about a month, usually the weekend of Memorial Day, May 29th!
Excitement for Some, Anxiety for Others
For some people this is an exciting time of year. It means time to spend the summer with your kids, your family, go on vacation, sleep a little more (maybe), camping, pool time, going to camp, and recharging before the next school year.
Yet, for other people this may not be an exciting time of year. This may mean, spending more money for more time at daycare. Or, you may not be sure where to get the money for breakfast and lunch (as some students get free and reduced breakfast and lunch during the school day). Furthermore, kids and teens may be staying at home unsupervised while parents work while other students have to get a job to help out with house expenses for the family. Additionally, some students may not see their friends as much as they do while in school, due to either difficult or nonexistent transportation. Sometimes the summer may bring on a lot of time spent alone, fixating on negative thoughts, and being lonely. For some families the summer is more stressful than the school year.
What do we do then………
Planning Ahead
One of my recommendations is to fill up students’ time with activities to help decrease the time they are at home unsupervised. This doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Look into community recreation centers, YMCAs, libraries, getting a My Denver Card, low cost summer camps, free days at the zoo, museums, parks, finding a neighborhood daycare, summer sports, and asking family and friends to help with the kids/teens over the summer months.
Therefore, I say, while you still have time before summer is officially here, plan out what to do for the summer to help decrease some of that stress and anxiety and remember, sometimes you just have to roll with the punches, it’s ok if things don’t go as planned.
Take time for yourself. Although summer “is for the kids,” look inside yourself, to your inner child, and find the excitement of summer!!! If you can, take some days off work, head to the pool, lake, parks, mountains, spend time outside, get that sun on your face (wear sunscreen), eat ice cream, play in the sprinklers, eat watermelon, have a water balloon fight, or simply sit on the back porch or front porch listen to some music and watch the sunset or sunrise!
Hang in there….you are soooooo close!!!!
Warmly,
Katie
About the Author
Katie Bisbee-Peek is the owner and founder of Peek Counseling in the Denver, Colorado area. In the summertime, you can catch Katie running, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her husband and friends. Katie’s practice is positive, mindful and seeks to connect you with your inner child to find the joy in your life. If your gut is telling you to come in for a session, it’s really easy, just click here and tell me about a day and time.