If you are looking at the calendar and feeling some apprehension about the end of the school year being close at hand, you are in good company. The beginning of summer brings with it a variety of emotions – gladness for the end of the school schedule, remembrance of our earlier days anticipating the freedom of summer and even concern of how to keep our kids busy, happy and ourselves energized.

It does take stamina – mentally, physically and emotionally – to parent a spirited, sensitive child. If you are concerned about the impending summer changes, here are some ways to make things smoother this summer:

Set an intention. Dare to dream. Consider the following questions in your heart as you tune into your feelings and your inner guidance. What would make this summer fun? What would you like to feel as you spend time with your child this summer? How would you like to feel about your child? Do you want to experience more ease, grace, fun, peace, connection or something else? By asking these simple questions, you can clarify your focus and align your actions to it. This begins to activate positive energy to create more satisfying experiences with your child.

Create a schedule to ensure smooth transitions. Planning helps you stay in a space of empowerment. By developing and writing down a daily, weekly or monthly schedule for the summer months, you will have a clear game plan to share with your child and help keep him or her on track. You will also deliberately create a rhythm and flow to support you. Spirited kids typically like to know what’s coming ahead of time. If you can set up some predictable routines and announce transitions ahead of time, whenever possible, it helps set their mind at ease. This helps everyone in the family.

Build your schedule on things you and your child want to do this summer. Use the intention you’ve set to guide you on your activities. Ask for your child’s input. Brainstorm ideas together. Strike a balance between your need and your child’s need for activity, down time, sleep and adventure.

Make a decision that your daily self-care is a priority. Do atleast one thing for yourself each day. Set the tone for your day by asking yourself a question upon waking that connects you with your inner wisdom. For example – Ask yourself, “What is the most important thing I can do to feel peaceful today? Or, What is the most important thing I can do to experience more fun today? (Insert your own feeling word or intention where it is underlined.) Then support yourself by following through on it.

By taking time to contemplate the upcoming transition to summer, you can create a solid footing to greet the summer with confidence and heartfelt connection with your spirited child.

Tagged as: ADD/ADHD, challenges, emotions, spirited children, summer, transitions