5 Ways We’re Simplifying Our Life This Summer

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Things are way too complicated right now. Here’s how we’re simplifying our summer and you should, too.

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Almost every mom that I know in real life loves anything and everything simple. All my mom pals pretty much poo-poo the complicated crafts and experiences displayed on Pinterest and opt for things that are much less complicated. Any why shouldnt we? There is plenty for us to be overwhelmed by on a daily basis, especially now, and over-complicating areas in our lives that just don’t need it is completely unecessary.

So maybe you’ll call me a lazy mom and if you do, I’ll totally embrace it because with so much going on in the world right now, the last thing that we all need is the added stress of making our kid’s summer experience “magical.”

Spoiler alert: your children’s summer can still have magic, you just don’t always have to be the person stressing yourself out to create it.

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5 Ways We’re Simplifying Our Life This Summer

I’ll be honest with you all, my jaw basically hit the floor whenever I started scrolling through Facebook to find that pretty much everything I was excited about doing locally this summer with our family had been cancelled. Playgrounds. Summer concert nights in the park. Our favorite hiking trail. All cancelled or closed until August 31st. It’s kinda devistating if you ask me.

So than I, like every mother in America, immediately started thinking and researching ways where we could bring the magic to them. I started making a list. Which then lead to a shopping trip and an Amazon Prime order and then I was like “heckkkk noooo.” So simple is where it’s at in the Cooper Household and I’m sharing a few of my summer tips with you all today.

1. Have a summer more like my childhood.

We did not have our own phones and tablets whenever I was a kid. We had zero distractions and had to figure out what we were going to do each day with our friends in the neighborhood. Remember growing up whenever kids would come and ring the door bell and you would be all “bye mom!” and run off to play. Yes. Lots of that this summer. With some supervision, of course.

2. Let them have some independence.

Blake’s famous words lately are “I do it myself” and Branden is indepenedent with most things at this point in life, too. It’s important to me that they grow into self-suffient adults and I think that starts with small tasks that are age appropriate. One thing that we are loving this summer that is also making life easier for me is Project Sunscreen’s toxic-free, reef-friendly sunscreen that the kids can actually apply without help.

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You probably read about me introducing them last month, and these cool, brightly colored sunscreens that roll on and rub in with ease are still a part of our life. Developed by moms, who know the pain of trying to find a safe sunscreen for our children and also the struggle to get it on their bodies, this amazing product was literally developed to make everyone’s lives easier. And you know what? We are obsessed!

3. Not stressing about family dinner.

I know. GASP. You’re probably thinking that you can’t believe I included this, but just hear me out. Other than a few nights a week whenever we are all home at dinner time and gather around the dining room table, I decided that I’m not stressing about meals. The kids can honestly feed themselves with the plenty of quick and easy meal items I always make sure I buy and it takes a heck of a lot of stress off of Chris and I. And tbh: no one ever reacts to the gourmet type meals I try to put together. This crew of mine actually enjoys the simpler things, so I’m going with it!

4. Focus on free.

I’ve found that for the most part, whenever I’ve bought things with the sole purpose of just keeping the kids busy, I regret it. Anyone else? It almost always ends up being a disaster. This summer, in an effort to simplify things as much as I possibly can, I’m focusing on all the free offerings around us. Except for a few visits to our beloved dollar store, this summer will be all about the free parks, hiking trails, fishing, and just being outdoors whenever weather permits. Free goes a long way.

5. Let them be bored.

This is my last and maybe most beneficial piece of advice (other than the amazing, reef safe Project Sunscreen that is!): let boredom hit them, and let it hit them hard. Why? Because THIS is when the magic truly happens. Whenever they aren’t worrying about technology and probably eating up your whole pantry, they will find things to do all on their own and these will be the things that they will rememmber most. Promise.