35: Summer Sanity - A Framework for Peace, Not Pressure

Whatever Is Excellent with Leanne Tuggle

Do you dread the long, unstructured days of summer with kids at home? You're not alone. That well-meaning quote about "only having 18 summers with your kids" often creates more anxiety than inspiration for parents already feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility of filling endless summer days.
Seven years ago, I felt exactly this way—anxious about managing preschoolers and twins without the support system school provided. Today, I genuinely look forward to summer break. What changed? I discovered that creating a simple, flexible framework transforms summer from chaotic to peaceful. Children naturally thrive with predictable rhythms, and structure doesn't mean strictness—it means security.
This episode shares four practical approaches to establishing a life-giving summer schedule: creating a loose weekly framework with morning routines and afternoon activities; theming your days (Make-it Monday, Take-a-trip Tuesday); implementing a daily "room time reset" for everyone to recharge independently; and remembering to extend grace when plans inevitably change. You'll learn why incorporating both work and rest mirrors God's design and how summer offers unique opportunities for discipleship when we're intentional with our time.
Remember, you're not a cruise director responsible for orchestrating every moment of summer fun. Your mission is to cultivate peace and provide purpose for your days together. As Isaiah 26:3 reminds us, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you." What atmosphere do you want to cultivate in your home this summer, and how might a simple rhythm help make space for that?

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Chapters

1. Rethinking the "18 Summers" Pressure (00:00:00)

2. Why Structure Creates Security for Kids (00:04:02)

3. Creating a Summer Discipleship Framework (00:06:07)

4. Four Practical Tips for Summer Scheduling (00:07:24)

5. Finding Grace and Peace in Summer Rhythms (00:15:27)