We’ve got to start today’s show by addressing a very specific tension. I know if I’m feeling it, you probably are too. It’s the tension between the joy of summertime and the duty of still having to get stuff done. The kids get a break from school, so why can’t we take a break from all our work tasks too? Hmm, somehow this summer system is broken! Ha! That’s why I’m giving you my best three tips on how to balance fun and tasks this summer.
Here we are again in the Summer Thrive Guide Mini Series! In case you’ve recently hopped onto the show, this mini series run through episodes 291-304, and it’s filled with tips and tools to help you, the busy Christian mom, thrive during summertime! You can click on this link to be taken to the Summer Thrive Guide main page and see all the featured episodes.
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Summertime is so great! I love it so much! There are pool parties, cookouts, no set schedule, family vacations, road trips, and more! Duties during the summertime are hard because of all the pool parties, cookouts, no set schedule, family vacations, road trips, and more! See where I’m going with this? Learning how to balance fun and tasks this summer can be easier than you think!
I know I want to rest and relax this summer (and my husband and kids want that too), but this can easily turn into a sedentary or slothful summer if we’re not careful. Not healthy. However, we can’t be “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” either. That ended terribly in The Shining, so I’m not about that life. So let’s look at this range from slothful to Shining, and find a healthy balance.
Whether you’re working from home with the kids there, or your human dependents are off to childcare and camps all summer, the temptation of over-relaxing is still there. We can blame it on summer all we want, but is doing that helping us move in the direction we truly want to go? No. Since it’s illogical to blame a literal season of the year, this means we need to take the responsibility. We are the parents and leaders of the home after all, right? You’re the most adultish adult here in this situation!
With my tips on how to balance fun and tasks during the summer, this episode will help you say “buh-bye” to the frazzle of all the summer things happening at once while getting nothing done, and hello to the “Ahhhh, summer…” feeling. Let’s find that summer peace we’re all craving.
Tip #1 Stay Disciplined in Your Spiritual Walk
If you’ve been here a while, you probably saw this coming. I will say this forever, and that’s because it’s true! When we stick with Jesus, everything else falls in line. When we prioritize our relationship with God, it’s promised that everything else is added to us. I did an entire episode about this last week, and I’ve got it linked. It’s episode 297, 3 Tips to Stay Consistent During Summer. You can even press pause on this episode, go listen to 297, and meet me back here. It’s a quick listen!
The only way to ever experience true peace is in Jesus Christ. So you can do all these other tips I’m about to give you as much as you want, but in the end, if you’re missing Jesus, you’re missing everything that truly matters. Complete peace is in God alone. Period. Start there, I promise you won’t be disappointed. If you’re looking for how to balance fun and tasks during the summer, time with God is your first priority.
Confession time: In my early 20s as a young, married person, I did not do this well. I was too slothful in my walk with God. Looking back, it’s so obvious, but in the moment, I could not figure out why I was so disenchanted with going to church. It was so much easier to sleep in, play, and scroll Pinterest all day. Easier? Yes. But, better? No way. Thank God, Morgan led well, and gave me the ol, “Get ready, Brooke, we’re going to church.” All this time later, I have learned my lesson of keeping God first. Please learn from my mistakes, dear listener!
Tip #2 Everybody Works
We have done this from the beginning in our home, and I’m so thankful we did! If you haven’t done this yet, start today, and you’ll thank yourself every school holiday break from now on. If you want to learn how to balance fun and tasks during the summer make sure everybody works. We have a saying in the Collier house, “Everybody pulls their own weight.” For us, this means:
- everyone works hard for a common goal
- we’re all on the same team
- each person pulls their “age appropriate” weight
- we stay consistent and prioritize this
Every day, the kids are tasked with things they must do (don’t worry, it’s not taking up the whole day, but dang, they can sure do something a couple hours to make our home run more smoothly). Depending on the crazy summer schedule of any given day, the time varies on what needs to get done. These tasks range from cleaning and organizing to reading time and working in their brain books (I’ll link the brain book stuff at the bottom of the show notes in case you want that).
Let me break it down a bit more. Everybody works hard. We’re a Colossians 3:23 family, and by golly, we’re going to do our best no matter what task it is. Whether it’s CEO of the office or CEO of cleaning toilets, it’s going to be to our best ability. Our work ethic is founded in Christ. Does this mean we have an immaculately clean house? No, people live here. When Sloane mops, Scout puts dishes away, or Rhett cleans a mirror is it perfect? No. That’s not what we’ve asked of them. Is it to their best ability with their mental and physical capacities? Yes. That’s how we model Colossians 3:23.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Colossians 3:23
We’re all on the same team; we are the Collier Crew and we work hard for each other too. We all bring different skill sets to the table, and we lean on the strengths God has given us. Hello, body of Christ in action in our home! Some of us have a knack for organization and system building. Others are great at attention to detail and remember all the little things that add into big things. God put the five of us together, and we are all good at different things. Can you imagine everyone only being good at doing laundry? Nothing else would be done as efficiently or effectively.
I’m going to read this passage, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 because it’s important and I don’t want us to miss on the bigger, kingdom minded picture. Bonus points if you dive into this scripture on your own after this and highlight what sticks out to you in regards to your family.
One Body but Many Parts
12 There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ. 13 We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body. It didn’t matter whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink. 14 So the body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts.
15 Suppose the foot says, “I am not a hand. So I don’t belong to the body.” By saying this, it cannot stop being part of the body. 16 And suppose the ear says, “I am not an eye. So I don’t belong to the body.” By saying this, it cannot stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If the whole body were an ear, how could it smell? 18 God has placed each part in the body just as he wanted it to be. 19 If all the parts were the same, how could there be a body? 20 As it is, there are many parts. But there is only one body.
21 The eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 In fact, it is just the opposite. The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are the ones we can’t do without. 23 The parts that we think are less important we treat with special honor. The private parts aren’t shown. But they are treated with special care. 24 The parts that can be shown don’t need special care. But God has put together all the parts of the body. And he has given more honor to the parts that didn’t have any. 25 In that way, the parts of the body will not take sides. All of them will take care of one another. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy.
27 You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
When we begin to see the gifts and talents God is developing in us, we can see how those play nicely with work inside and outside of the home. So, if you’re needed to get stuff clean, or they need to practice their sight words to avoid summer slump, I highly recommend you implement the tip of everyone working every day (whatever those tasks may be).
Tip #3 Practice your “Yes, no, or not yet”
This goes for both you and the kids, and it’s probably the one I struggle with the most because I love to say yes as much as I can! There are so many fun and exciting things about summertime! There are pool parties, cookouts, no set schedule, family vacations, road trips, and more! Does that sound familiar? Remember, we’re looking to be in the healthy middle of slothful and Shining because neither end of the spectrum is thriving.
- Yes= let’s do it!
- No= no
- Not yet= range from later today to in a few years possibly
When we practice our yes, not, and not yet, it makes summer so much smoother, and it sets the expectations for our kids. Age and ability matter, so some things that are a hard “no” now, may not be in a few years. We also have the phrase, “When there’s a need and the maturity is there.” An example, “Mom, can I have a phone?” “Not yet, but when there’s a need and you’re mature enough, yes.” Hint: try not to tie ages with these. There are times that your 14 year old will be more mature than your 16 year old. Do yourself a favor and keep it case by case.
Again, in our house, we say yes as much as possible, but it’s within parameters, and a lot of times it’s in the “not yet” category. A cousin sleepover? Cool. Five cousin sleepovers in a row? No thanks. A couple of summer camps? Yes. Being gone all summer and us parents never see you? No thanks. I like you too much to not hang out with you. Yes, yes, I know some of you have olders who are camp counselors and are pointing kids to Christ all summer long, and that’s amazing! My eldest is currently 8, so that’s probably not the best idea at this time. Let’s slide that into the “not yet” category.
If it’s a “yes, but” kind of answer, that’s a “not yet”. For example, “Mom, can we go to Gigi & Pop’s house to play? “Not yet, first you need to make sure the house is tidied up.” Shout out back to Tip #2: Everybody works. If you know something is coming up, or if you just want to be ready in case something spontaneous comes up, they could have potentially already done the tasks you need to have done for the day.
Hint: This tip also works for you too. I know it can be so hard to say no to a good moms night out. If you want to be able to say yes to yourself without feeling guilty, or if you need to clam it down on the outings because your house is a functional disaster, this will help you too. A little forethought goes a long way, and will help with how to balance fun and tasks during the summer.
Recap
There you have it! My best three tips on how to balance fun and tasks during the summer. Let’s recap:
- Tip #1: Stay Disciplined in Your Spiritual Walk
- Tip #2: Everybody Works
- Tip #3: Practice your “Yes, no, or not yet”
When you can keep God first, have everyone pull their weight, and practice your “yes, no, not yet”, you’ll be able to feel more balanced between the summer fun, and still being able to keep up with work and tasks. Remember, you were chosen to work hard for God, and to enjoy the blessings in life. If you’ve found this helpful, share this with a friend or on your social media.
Links from the Show
