Summer is a wonderful time for families to spend time together. When my own children were younger and still living at home, summer was also an extremely busy time for me. Organizing day trips, healthy snacks and lunches, and fun breakfasts, summer holidays increased my active duty as “mom”! I was fortunate as my husband, a college professor also had summer vacations with the family. I was the resident cook and he, the clean-up crew until the boys could pitch in the kitchen as well.
These months were sacred for our family and a time to slow down, relax, and play. In the early years, we did not have a lot of extra money for expensive trips. Instead, we generally stayed in Toronto enjoying our local beaches and parks. We also had access to a family cottage in Marmora where my sons learned to fish and swim in a muddy river making good memories with family and friends that last a lifetime.
By the end of summer, the local community of mothers agreed that getting back to school and a regular schedule was a good thing ! We enjoyed this time with our families as a community. We validated each other’s feelings that mothering was a full-time job when our kids were home.
My choice was to always negotiate time off during summer vacation in order to stay with my children. Before my career in education, I would take small leaves without pay in order to be with my sons. This was my choice and I am glad I had employers who agreed and supported my wish to stay with my own family when they were on vacation.
Partially, my choice to work in education was shared by this coveted summer holiday time. This was especially important when my boys were in elementary school and still enjoyed time with their mom and dad! In truth, all of my career and professional choices were shaped in tandem with my primary responsibility to be with my own children whenever they were home full-time.
How do you integrate your own family experiences in your use of self-care strategies with parents in your practice? What methods do you use to support new parents with their personal choice around child care, work, vacation, and domestic duties? Have you unpacked your values and biases around these options? #wellness #family #care #healthy #nurture