• Home
  • About
    • New? Start Here.
    • Meet The Co-Hosts
    • Meet The Contributors
    • In The Media
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

The Mom Hour

Happier motherhood starts here.

  • New? Start Here.
  • Podcast
    • Recent Episodes
    • Complete Archives
    • Search By Topic
  • Blog
  • Ages & Stages
    • Babies
    • Toddlers
    • Preschoolers
    • Big Kids
    • Tweens & Teens
  • Shop
  • Our Partners

in Blog on June 20, 2022 by Sarah Powers

A Just-Structured-Enough Summer Schedule For Kids

I wrote this post eight years ago, when I had three kids ages six and under. Hoping it helps those of you in the trenches with little ones home this summer (and a special shout-out to AZ mamas who have to do it all INDOORS). xo, Sarah

It’s summer, moms. Are you loving it? I really enjoyed the first week or so of not rushing around in the mornings, staying in pajamas for half the day, and not remembering exactly what day it was.

But for me there comes a point where I crave a little more routine. Not a ton, but a little. My kids are young – 6, 4, and 16 months – and still rely on me to set the tone for our summer days, so this year I’m making an effort to find that balance between structure and freedom.

I first tried out the system I’ll share with you in a minute over spring break, and it was so helpful. I felt like it gave the kids a big role in designing their own vacation fun, without turning me into a helpless chauffeur to their every whim. I kept my protected at-home work time each day, they knew when to look forward to their big-ticket “fun stuff,” and they also had a stable of at-home ideas to keep them busy.

Here’s HOW our summer schedule works (in a nutshell):

  • We make a giant weekly schedule template that the kids help create and fill with activities
  • We block-schedule our days so that everyone understands the basic rhythm of each day (we’re always home in the middle of the day for the baby’s naptime, for example)
  • The kids choose from a list of at-home activities and out-and-about excursions to fill in the blocks on the schedule
  • We make the whole thing large, dynamic, and in-your-face obvious to minimize the “what are we DOING today?” and “can we GO somewhere now?” questions

Here’s WHY I think this summer schedule works (for us):

  • The kids are involved from beginning to end – they make the list of things to do, they help create the schedule, and they put the activities on the calendar
  • They can see and read the schedule anytime they want to or need a reminder
  • It’s not about programming every hour OR checking things off a list, but about making time for the things we want to do – and need to do

If you’re looking for just-enough structure this summer, here’s a step-by-step guide to how I made our summer schedule. Let me know if you have any questions by leaving a comment at the end of the post!

1. Make two lists (at-home and out-and-about) 

For the last couple of weeks we’ve had a giant piece of butcher paper taped to the wall in our kitchen. Every time somebody says “you know what we should do this summer? ___________.”, we write it down. You might call it a bucket list, but I think of it more as a catch-all for the things we think might be fun. I can guarantee we won’t actually DO all of them this summer, and that’s okay.

To balance out the big-ticket outings that the kids have no trouble dreaming up – Children’s Museum, Science Center, amusement park, etc. – I’ve also been filling the list with everyday, at-home activities: bake cookies, paint, play-doh, kids-make-dinner night, family movie night, etc.

The key is that we have a good mix of at-home and out-and-about activities, as well as a balance between Big Cool Fun stuff and more everyday entertainment.

Once you’ve made your list, you’ll need the materials you see below (or something close enough):

2. Make your activity cards

Using our big list, we make “activity cards” to fill the spots on our schedule. I cut some old card stock into rectangles about 2 inches by 4 inches – half of them yellow and the other half green. On the yellow cards we wrote activities that take place outside the house; on the green went at-home diversions. My six-year-old did some of the cards on her own, my four-year-old tackled a few, and I helped with the rest.

As we copied ideas from the big list to the cards, we thought of even more ideas for things to do. There’s no upper limit to the number of ideas/cards you end up with – I’m just careful to set the expectation that we might not get to everything this summer (which is why one of the cards says “CROOS” and we have no plans for a cruise anytime soon :)).

Finally, I add in a few “boring” cards like “Groceries,” “Costco,” “Chores,” etc. Since the kids will fill in the schedule, it helps to have those things included so that they can fit them in around the fun stuff.

3. Construct your calendar

For the actual schedule, we use a roll of art easel butcher paper about four feet long. A poster board would also work. I think the larger size helps small kids see, touch, and buy in to the whole thing a lot more easily, so as much as I love my weekly Google calendar printout, for this project we go big.

I use a Sharpie and draw straight-enough lines vertically to divide the length of the paper into seven days of the week (I start the week on Monday but that’s just a personal preference).

Below the days of the week I draw horizontal lines to separate four major blocks of time during the day (more on schedule blocking in a bit). Depending on your schedule, you might have more or fewer blocks.

4. Block schedule your days (and know thyself before you do)

I work best with a predictable routine – not down to the minute, but with a same-enough rhythm to my days. I also have a toddler who naps during the middle of the day, somewhere in the window between 11am and 2pm. And finally, I work from home, so I rely on that predictable routine and midday nap to Getteth The Stuff Done.

I also am happiest when we spend a fair amount of time at home, punctuated by one or two outings during the day. I’m not a fan of bouncing around from errands to activities to another quick errand and then one more thing before we head home. Just not my style. I know other moms who feel stir-crazy at home or whose kids need more activity than mine seem to – so this is an area where it helps to know and honor yourself and your family dynamic.

Knowing myself and our family, our schedule blocks are: Morning (wake-up to 11am), Mid-Day (11am-2pm), Afternoon (2pm-5pm), and Evening (5pm-bedtime). So my finished (empty) schedule looks like this:

4. Fill in the blocks with at-home or out-and-about activities for the week

Finally, the fun part: filling in the schedule blocks with the activity cards! I wrote a couple of things we do every week directly on the calendar, but the rest will change out each week so the cards work better.

I use a piece of Scotch tape rolled into a loop to stick the cards on the paper. When we take them down to schedule the next week, it peels off easily.

Just like with every other step of this process, I really try to let the kids take the lead as much as possible. I’m trying to avoid the “But MO-OM, why can’t we do something FUN today?” complaints – if they help make the schedule, they have an ownership stake in the process. With the color-coded cards, it’s easy for them to choose independent, at-home activities for the mid-day block when their sister is napping, and I can help them with other details, like doing outdoor stuff earlier in the day when it’s cooler.

This is also a chance for me to make sure my priorities are met as well. I put our necessary errands and any other appointments on the calendar at the same time, so the kids understand up front that not every day will be a trip to the park (literally).

(Just in case it isn’t obvious, we don’t start and end every activity according to those schedule blocks. No amount of play-doh is going to keep my kids busy for 3 hours straight, and a trip to the store doesn’t take all morning. But given all of our need to chill out and dawdle and putter in between, we aim for one activity per block of time.)

5. Hang and display!

Have you noticed a theme about my execution here? It’s SO not professional or crafty. I didn’t measure anything, or use a straight-edge. I use Scotch tape to stick some paper to some more paper and stick the whole thing to my dining room wall. If a more polished look is your thing, that’s awesome; I just didn’t want lack of skills or supplies get in my way of getting this done, so ours is a bit rough around the edges.

The schedule hangs high up on the dining room wall, where everybody can see it as we sit around the table. I also keep a container of blank cards and a Sharpie nearby so we can add ideas as we think of them (notice how many blank spots there still are above? We start with the stuff we KNOW we want or need to do, and fill the rest in as we go).

Of course, nothing is set in stone; if the kids don’t feel like doing LEGOs on Tuesday, who cares? They can look through the other cards for another idea.

That’s it! Will you be trying some kind of summer schedule for your kids this year? I’m still relatively new at this – I’d love to hear how you handle it!

Want More On Summer Schedules?

Hit Play On One Of These Episodes:

[powerpress_playlist ids=”28102, 35640, 25027, 17955″ date=0]

Related

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: calendar planning, preschoolers, summer

About Sarah Powers

Sarah Powers is co-host and Executive Producer of The Mom Hour podcast. She lives in Santa Barbara, CA with her husband and three kids, ages 9, 11, and 13.

deals from our partners



When you click through these links and make a purchase, we earn a small commission at no additional cost to you (and we only partner with brands we’ve used and truly love!).

« Family Travel Mishaps & Why We Go Anyway: Voices 76
A Week Of Real-Life Housework (Part One): Episode 370 »

Comments

  1. beth says

    June 10, 2018 at 11:51 am

    thank you for this post! school ends for us at the end of the week, and I’m getting antsy about having a liiiitle bit of a schedule/routine to follow. love your ideas – and especially getting the kids (or kid, in my case) involved in the planning. happy summer to you!

    Reply
  2. Mandy says

    June 19, 2018 at 10:30 am

    this is exactly what I needed to get through summer with my 4 & 6 year old without anyone losing their mind! 1 week in, so far so good!

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      June 30, 2018 at 1:59 pm

      Thanks Mandy! If you’d like to listen to the podcast on the same topic, it’s here.

      Reply
  3. Priscy says

    June 20, 2018 at 5:26 am

    Thank you for the idea! It’s awesome. I’ll be doing this today with my 6 &1 year old daughters.

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      June 30, 2018 at 1:58 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  4. Sonya says

    July 4, 2018 at 12:42 am

    This is super helpful to me as I attempt to make some sort of schedule for our 4 kids this summer! They are ages 9, 7, 4, and 9 months. I appreciate your laid back approach!

    Reply
  5. Shanna says

    May 22, 2019 at 10:35 pm

    Hi, if you’re willing to share, I’d love to see some of the activity options. This is such a great idea!

    Reply
  6. Rachel says

    June 9, 2019 at 8:24 pm

    I love this plan. I use this in conjunction with a list of what to do for screen time. Then during reset time (I miss naps!) I get a reset and the kids can do all the things on their summer screen time list. All get reset. And I also love the tip about it being portable. I have my calendar on my phone but they have their lists on clipboards. They can grab them or check off stuff when they get home. Works well. Mostly I continue to find its a lot like what you were saying about doing what needs done, what wants to be done, but also just balancing the times where there needs to be nothing. Just being.

    P.S. I used post its and folded paper. Equally professional and crafty. 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Listen + Subscribe

Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Subscribe on Spotify
Subscribe in Google Podcasts
Subscribe on YouTube
Subscribe on Amazon Music

Featured Sponsor

Search

Take Our Listener Survey!

Recent Blog Posts

Visiting Chicago with Kids

May 22, 2023 By Katherine DeVries

Exploring Nature Through Books: 7 Beautiful Nonfiction Nature Book Series For Kids

May 8, 2023 By Sandy Hsu

When Your Motherhood Looks Different From Everyone Else’s

April 24, 2023 By Stacy Bronec

Take Our 2023 Listener Survey!

April 14, 2023 By The Mom Hour

5 Baby Steps To Get Your Family Started With Backyard Composting

April 12, 2023 By Jayme Sherrod

more from the blog...

On Instagram

themomhour

Top 10 parenting podcast hosted by @meaganfrancis (MI) & @powersofmine (SoCal). 8 kids between us, little to grown. Happier motherhood starts here.

The Mom Hour
Happy kickoff to a long holiday weekend for many! Happy kickoff to a long holiday weekend for many! It's time for our monthly roundup of sponsors and affiliate partners, where we thank the brands who help support our show and remind YOU of their great deals. For our unique promo codes and links, just tap our saved "Sponsors" highlight. We also collect ALL our active promo codes on our Deals & Offers page on our website. Just tap on this image at the link in our bio to check it out!

Thank you for checking out our partners and using our links + codes!

Shoutout to our new & featured partners:
🎙️ @amazonmusic (listen to all your favorite podcasts!)
🎧 @pinnaaudio (50% off safe podcasts, stories, and music for kids!) 
👗 @stitchfix ($20 off your first purchase of styles you'll love!)
🤖 @kiwico_inc (50% your first month + free shipping!)

And welcome back . . .
⭐ @hellofresh (50% off America's #1 meal kit!)
⭐ @rakuten (save $ when you shop!)
⭐ @scholasticinc (books for kids of all ages!)
⭐ @minted (art, cards, decor & more!)
⭐ @chatbooks (the easiest photo books ever!)
⭐ @fabletics (2 workout bottoms for $24!)
⭐ @todoistofficial (2 mo. free of Todoist Pro!)
⭐️ @theessentialcalendar (10% off calendars!)
⭐️ @hiyahealth (50% off 1st order!)
⭐️ @athleticgreens (1yr of Vit.D + 5 travel packs!)
⭐️ @vionicshoes (free shipping on comfy shoes!)
⭐ @ritual (10% off your 1st 3 mo.!)
This week's episode has elicited more comments and This week's episode has elicited more comments and emails than we've gotten in a LONG TIME. We're so glad the topic touched a nerve and appreciate every one of the notes we've received.

Speaking of "doneness" and all the feels about moving out of the baby-having years, this result from our listener survey surprised us. 72% of listeners who responded to the question about plans to grow their families said they are totally done. This is a big jump from previous surveys where we asked the same question (in 2021 59% said they were done; in 2019 47%).

If you haven't taken our survey yet, please do! Click this image at the link in our bio, or type themomhour.com/survey into any browser. Thanks, friends!
Did you know we have travel guides on our website Did you know we have travel guides on our website for NINE different U.S. cities (and counting!)? Our contributors hail from all over the country and know the best playgrounds, coffee shops, and family-friendly activities to make your summer travels more joyful and less stressful.

Our Chicagoland guide comes from @thepaperdart, who lives in SoCal now but hails from the Windy City originally. She has a guide FULL of mom-tested ideas for bringing kids to Chicago and surrounding areas. Click this image at the link in our bio to read Katherine's post, and get all the guides at themomhour.com/travel!

#chicagowithkids #travelwithkids #summer2023 #summertravel #windycitykids #windycitymoms #chicagolandwithkids #chicagomoms #chicago
New episode, based on this letter we received from New episode, based on this letter we received from listener Sarah (swipe to read). We're guessing more than a few of you can relate...

"Done having babies" and "Sad about the end of the little years" are two completely different mom-emotions, as Meagan and Sarah get into today, with the help of a thoughtful listener question. We look at how it's possible to be at peace with your family size and still experience grief at the identity shift that happens as your last babe gets big (and your bigs get huge). We reflect on what pangs us most about small kids growing bigger, how to accept the unfamiliar role of being (slightly) less needed, and what it means to embrace the season you find yourself in - whatever it is.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Summer’s almost here, but Florida’s a place wh Summer’s almost here, but Florida’s a place where you can enjoy the season’s fun and relaxation year-round.  #ad

Escape your busy routine and spread out along 825 miles of beaches, 700 freshwater springs and over 1300 trails with breathing room to run and play. Discover new experiences in the most comfortable place to get out of your comfort zone, only on a family vacation in Florida. (It’s just the best.)

Start planning your Florida vacation and learn more about all the places to go by clicking on this image at the link in our bio. 🏝️ And thanks for supporting the brands that support our show! @visitflorida #VisitFlorida #LoveFL
New episode! A parent of three is exhausted by di New episode!

A parent of three is exhausted by dinnertime sillies and wants help steering conversation at the family table. A stay-at-home mom asks what to do when her child says, "don't tell dad I got in trouble at school!". And a parent of a tween who wants acrylic nails asks a bigger question about letting kids alter their appearance in general. Meagan and Sarah tackle tricky parenting challenges with our best attempts at nuance, compassion, and humor in today's episode.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Looking to enrich your home library with nature-in Looking to enrich your home library with nature-inspired children's books? Sandy Hsu (@hopefulsmiles) has a roundup on the blog this week with beautiful book series that bring science and nature to life with compelling visuals. Check it out by clicking this image at the link in our bio!
New episode! Happy Mother's Day! Meagan thought i New episode!

Happy Mother's Day! Meagan thought it would be fun to surprise Sarah with an episode full of lightning-round-style "this or that" questions and "would you rather" head-scratchers. Join us for lots of laughs, silly questions and tons of fun! If you've been listening for a while you know that we're chronically lightning-round-challenged. Find out if we answer all the questions before the buzzer goes off! 

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast#podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast#podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
A few thoughts on family vacations . . . –writte A few thoughts on family vacations . . . –written by @catieparrish on our team, in partnership with our sponsor @visitflorida . . . #AD

There's a lot that isn't shown in a vacation highlight reel. The impatient kids, the out-of-order elevator, the lost ball cap that caused so many tears, the tighter-than-usual vehicle seating arrangements that prevent siblings from keeping their hands to themselves, the weary parents trying to juggle it all.

But - thankfully! - throughout the trip, there are moments that make you think, "Totally worth it." One of those moments, for me, was our first beach walk after arriving in @vspc. The kids were ecstatic to see the ocean, the view was stunning, and I could feel the stress of managing a million details melt away. 

It's not that different, really, from anything else we do. We spend time, effort, and money to create and maintain a home that serves our family. It leads to the "worth it" moments of big weekend breakfasts and cozy family movie nights. We keep up the text thread, move stuff around on the calendar, and figure out childcare, so we can laugh with neighbors at a taproom. We put in the hours at work; for the paycheck, yes; but also to be able to say, "I helped do that."

I'm so happy our family got to have so many totally-worth-it moments in Florida. If you're interested in planning your own Florida vacation, click on this photo in our bio.

#visitflorida #loveFL
New episode! Meagan spent a soggy day helping eig New episode!

Meagan spent a soggy day helping eight grade science students release salmon into a creek, and it inspired this conversation all about kids and field trips. From tiny toddlers at the fire station to teens on a red-eye flight to Washington, D.C., time outside the classroom requires a ton of flexibility from everyone; we're here to discuss the both/and nature of field trips bringing added hassle AND growth opportunities. We also hear from two teachers and a special needs parent about their thoughts on field trips and swap stories about California vs. Michigan excursions for school-aged kids.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! SURPRISE! Popping in with a bonus ep New episode!

SURPRISE! Popping in with a bonus episode we recorded together in real life (and, in the same bed!) on a recent trip to Dallas. Get a feel for what Meagan and Sarah are like on the road together, how we feel about various airport-adjacent accommodations in the DFW area, and what we watched on TV that made us both so happy.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! From surfing lessons and sunset crui New episode!

From surfing lessons and sunset cruises, to training dolphins and learning about space...Meagan and her two teens, Clara and Owen, packed in so many unforgettable experiences during their Spring Break trip to Florida! In this episode Meagan shares more about her travels with teens to the Space Coast of Florida and St. Augustine/Florida's Historic Coast, thanks to our sponsor VISIT FLORIDA. And while the activities may look a little bit different with teens vs. big kids and toddlers, find out why Meagan's best tips and take-aways for traveling with teens aren't actually that different from when they were toddlers. Enjoy! 

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast#podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast#podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Load More... Follow on Instagram

as seen on

Send us an email

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Email hello@themomhour.com and we’re here to help!

listen on

looking for something?

Happy kickoff to a long holiday weekend for many! Happy kickoff to a long holiday weekend for many! It's time for our monthly roundup of sponsors and affiliate partners, where we thank the brands who help support our show and remind YOU of their great deals. For our unique promo codes and links, just tap our saved "Sponsors" highlight. We also collect ALL our active promo codes on our Deals & Offers page on our website. Just tap on this image at the link in our bio to check it out!

Thank you for checking out our partners and using our links + codes!

Shoutout to our new & featured partners:
🎙️ @amazonmusic (listen to all your favorite podcasts!)
🎧 @pinnaaudio (50% off safe podcasts, stories, and music for kids!) 
👗 @stitchfix ($20 off your first purchase of styles you'll love!)
🤖 @kiwico_inc (50% your first month + free shipping!)

And welcome back . . .
⭐ @hellofresh (50% off America's #1 meal kit!)
⭐ @rakuten (save $ when you shop!)
⭐ @scholasticinc (books for kids of all ages!)
⭐ @minted (art, cards, decor & more!)
⭐ @chatbooks (the easiest photo books ever!)
⭐ @fabletics (2 workout bottoms for $24!)
⭐ @todoistofficial (2 mo. free of Todoist Pro!)
⭐️ @theessentialcalendar (10% off calendars!)
⭐️ @hiyahealth (50% off 1st order!)
⭐️ @athleticgreens (1yr of Vit.D + 5 travel packs!)
⭐️ @vionicshoes (free shipping on comfy shoes!)
⭐ @ritual (10% off your 1st 3 mo.!)
This week's episode has elicited more comments and This week's episode has elicited more comments and emails than we've gotten in a LONG TIME. We're so glad the topic touched a nerve and appreciate every one of the notes we've received.

Speaking of "doneness" and all the feels about moving out of the baby-having years, this result from our listener survey surprised us. 72% of listeners who responded to the question about plans to grow their families said they are totally done. This is a big jump from previous surveys where we asked the same question (in 2021 59% said they were done; in 2019 47%).

If you haven't taken our survey yet, please do! Click this image at the link in our bio, or type themomhour.com/survey into any browser. Thanks, friends!
Did you know we have travel guides on our website Did you know we have travel guides on our website for NINE different U.S. cities (and counting!)? Our contributors hail from all over the country and know the best playgrounds, coffee shops, and family-friendly activities to make your summer travels more joyful and less stressful.

Our Chicagoland guide comes from @thepaperdart, who lives in SoCal now but hails from the Windy City originally. She has a guide FULL of mom-tested ideas for bringing kids to Chicago and surrounding areas. Click this image at the link in our bio to read Katherine's post, and get all the guides at themomhour.com/travel!

#chicagowithkids #travelwithkids #summer2023 #summertravel #windycitykids #windycitymoms #chicagolandwithkids #chicagomoms #chicago
New episode, based on this letter we received from New episode, based on this letter we received from listener Sarah (swipe to read). We're guessing more than a few of you can relate...

"Done having babies" and "Sad about the end of the little years" are two completely different mom-emotions, as Meagan and Sarah get into today, with the help of a thoughtful listener question. We look at how it's possible to be at peace with your family size and still experience grief at the identity shift that happens as your last babe gets big (and your bigs get huge). We reflect on what pangs us most about small kids growing bigger, how to accept the unfamiliar role of being (slightly) less needed, and what it means to embrace the season you find yourself in - whatever it is.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Summer’s almost here, but Florida’s a place wh Summer’s almost here, but Florida’s a place where you can enjoy the season’s fun and relaxation year-round.  #ad

Escape your busy routine and spread out along 825 miles of beaches, 700 freshwater springs and over 1300 trails with breathing room to run and play. Discover new experiences in the most comfortable place to get out of your comfort zone, only on a family vacation in Florida. (It’s just the best.)

Start planning your Florida vacation and learn more about all the places to go by clicking on this image at the link in our bio. 🏝️ And thanks for supporting the brands that support our show! @visitflorida #VisitFlorida #LoveFL
New episode! A parent of three is exhausted by di New episode!

A parent of three is exhausted by dinnertime sillies and wants help steering conversation at the family table. A stay-at-home mom asks what to do when her child says, "don't tell dad I got in trouble at school!". And a parent of a tween who wants acrylic nails asks a bigger question about letting kids alter their appearance in general. Meagan and Sarah tackle tricky parenting challenges with our best attempts at nuance, compassion, and humor in today's episode.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Looking to enrich your home library with nature-in Looking to enrich your home library with nature-inspired children's books? Sandy Hsu (@hopefulsmiles) has a roundup on the blog this week with beautiful book series that bring science and nature to life with compelling visuals. Check it out by clicking this image at the link in our bio!
New episode! Happy Mother's Day! Meagan thought i New episode!

Happy Mother's Day! Meagan thought it would be fun to surprise Sarah with an episode full of lightning-round-style "this or that" questions and "would you rather" head-scratchers. Join us for lots of laughs, silly questions and tons of fun! If you've been listening for a while you know that we're chronically lightning-round-challenged. Find out if we answer all the questions before the buzzer goes off! 

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast#podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast#podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
A few thoughts on family vacations . . . –writte A few thoughts on family vacations . . . –written by @catieparrish on our team, in partnership with our sponsor @visitflorida . . . #AD

There's a lot that isn't shown in a vacation highlight reel. The impatient kids, the out-of-order elevator, the lost ball cap that caused so many tears, the tighter-than-usual vehicle seating arrangements that prevent siblings from keeping their hands to themselves, the weary parents trying to juggle it all.

But - thankfully! - throughout the trip, there are moments that make you think, "Totally worth it." One of those moments, for me, was our first beach walk after arriving in @vspc. The kids were ecstatic to see the ocean, the view was stunning, and I could feel the stress of managing a million details melt away. 

It's not that different, really, from anything else we do. We spend time, effort, and money to create and maintain a home that serves our family. It leads to the "worth it" moments of big weekend breakfasts and cozy family movie nights. We keep up the text thread, move stuff around on the calendar, and figure out childcare, so we can laugh with neighbors at a taproom. We put in the hours at work; for the paycheck, yes; but also to be able to say, "I helped do that."

I'm so happy our family got to have so many totally-worth-it moments in Florida. If you're interested in planning your own Florida vacation, click on this photo in our bio.

#visitflorida #loveFL
New episode! Meagan spent a soggy day helping eig New episode!

Meagan spent a soggy day helping eight grade science students release salmon into a creek, and it inspired this conversation all about kids and field trips. From tiny toddlers at the fire station to teens on a red-eye flight to Washington, D.C., time outside the classroom requires a ton of flexibility from everyone; we're here to discuss the both/and nature of field trips bringing added hassle AND growth opportunities. We also hear from two teachers and a special needs parent about their thoughts on field trips and swap stories about California vs. Michigan excursions for school-aged kids.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts

Copyright © 2023 · Life, Listened
Development by Cipher