Written by: Tameika Smith B.A, MHC

It’s that time of the year many Mothers dread; the summer season. With the break from school, daily routines shift for teenagers, and most of them are ready to sleep in late and retreat to social media. Nevertheless, life for you continues, and the show must go on. However, something tells me that this summer will look radically different for you if you do one life-changing thing: give yourself grace.

The truth is, the summer season can be stressful. While it may seem like a time to relax and spend with family, the demands and expectations placed on you can be as high as the sun. A recent survey of mothers’ stress levels during the summer shows that two-thirds of them want to do fun and exciting things for their children but don’t know how to turn those ideas into reality. Many mothers feel anxious at the thought of disappointing their teens by not meeting their expectations for a great summer break.

Instead of immediately going into planning overdrive and overwhelming yourself with schedules, consider these five ways of giving yourself grace. They will help reduce the stresses that come with summer 2023.

1 First and foremost, make sure you practice self-care daily, regardless of what is going on. While this may be challenging, it’s important to determine what self-care habits you want to incorporate into your daily or weekly routine. Doing so will help you be emotionally and spiritually present for your teen, but most importantly, for yourself. Consider this step as putting the oxygen mask on yourself first before assisting others.

2 After establishing your self-care practice, it’s important to lower your expectations. Now that you’ve made an appointment for the mani/pedi you’ve been putting off and decided to finish the book you started earlier this year, don’t expect things to be perfect from this point on. Whether your summer plans include weekend trips, beach vacations, summer camps, or family visits, the goal of lowering your expectations is to have fun in the process.

other ways, giving yourself grace, will help to reduce the stresses that will come in the summer of 2023.

With your teenager home from school, your morning routine may be different, so prioritize rest. Getting adequate sleep will be one of your greatest weapons in ensuring that your challenges will not overwhelm you.

Identify your support system by knowing which areas you’ll need support in and recognizing those who are willing and able to stand in the gap for you. Parenting can sometimes feel isolating, leading to loneliness and an increased risk of mental and physical health concerns. You weren’t meant to do this alone, so don’t be afraid to ask for help or seek the social support that you may be lacking.

Let’s be honest here, your teen is home for more hours than you may want, but it’s a wonderful opportunity for you to get to know them better. Engage your teenager in an ongoing conversation about their dreams and aspirations for their life. Ask questions that draw out their strengths, gifts, and talents. Encourage them to create a list of things they would like to accomplish over the summer. As you create this list, establish a schedule with some of the listed items as well as additional activities that promote independence, growth, and self-awareness.

By giving yourself grace, you’ll be reminded that you’re not a machine. You can’t possibly be everything to everyone, so offer yourself the love and compassion you need as you embark on Summer 2023.