We made it! Insert big sigh of relief here. Honestly, what I really want to do is put my face in a pillow and scream. The first scream would be pure joy — sheer overexcitement that the summer holidays are officially over and I did not, in fact, die. The following screams? Those are for the overstimulation, the second jar of peanut butter we demolished, the calf strain from power-walking Costco aisles, and the deep, primal relief that everyone in this house is still alive.
Wow. What an experience. My overthinking, over-preparing self is tempted to collapse at the thought that this summer holiday business is a yearly thing (yikes). But for now, I’m focusing on the win: the 2025 summer holidays are done. Alexa, play Viva La Vida by Coldplay.
The uniform labels have arrived, I’ve bought socks for every possible season, and I’ve dry-cleaned and laundered so much that the school logo is literally haunting my dreams. Packed lunch boxes? Oh, I’ve got unicorns, spaceships, and enough glitter from Smiggle on everything! Now I’m just waiting to exhale on that glorious first school morning.
I’ve actually found joy in nudging the kids back into routine — regular bedtime, actual meals (instead of snacks every 10 minutes), and a snack basket that has regained both its boundaries and its respect. Every other sentence out of my mouth has been, “…because you know you’re going back to school next week,” and let me tell you, I’ve been seconds away from breaking into a twirl each time I say it.
This summer was loaded. It was my first official summer with children of school age, and I’ve learnt so much — not just about parenting, but about each of my children and how to relate to them individually.
Here’s my take-home:
1. Summer holidays should be fun, but also fun for the parent.
Be intentional about planning one thing you’ll actually enjoy with the kids. Rollercoaster? Picnic in the park? Quiet reading time (where you read your book, not rereading “The Gruffalo” for the 500th time)! Do something you’ll all laugh about.
2. Make time for yourself.
Yes, I said it, and I’m saying it with my full chest. You can burn out during the holidays too. Book that spa appointment. Take yourself to lunch. Bribe, beg, or recruit someone else to watch the kids. Take breaks. LOTS of breaks.
3. You can’t do summer holidays in isolation.
Find another family. Combine forces. Team up for park trips, amusement parks, or even “screen days”. No family is an island, and sometimes the biggest win is having another adult around when one child needs the bathroom and the other two are dangling dangerously from the monkey bars.
4. Loosen up (just a little)
From one structured parent to another, sometimes less structure is exactly what kids need. I know, I know, scary! But it’s necessary.
5. Keep a little learning
I still believe summer is a great time to close academic gaps or get a head start. But since the twins were only 4 and my daughter 6 this year, I let that slide (a bit). Next year, I’ll enter teach-mummy mode!
6. Get outside.
Learn a new sport together, teach them to ride a bike, or just teach them the fine art of sweeping the playroom floor. Summer holidays are for memories, yes, but also for sneaky life lessons.
7. And lastly, don’t forget yourself!
Eat the cake, steal the last cookie from the bottom of their lunchbox you prepared for summer camp…run barefoot to the ice-cream van with one shoe missing…buy that lolly for yourself.
To every parent who’s been in the trenches with me this summer: this is our moment of celebration. Cheers to us! You did it! Go ahead, do your victory dance. Thank you for riding along with me!
Now…head up, shoulders back… let’s prepare for the next battles: missing water bottles, sudden shoe size upgrades, endless homework checks, and answering 100+ daily questions that begin with “Muuuum…”
Onwards, parents!
