SALT LAKE CITY — Summer for moms can often feel like “survival of the fittest” compared to a fun and enjoyable break.
The goal for summer isn’t perfection, it’s about having a memorable break with family.
Monica Packer shared tips to help create a summer for the scrapbooks. She said is all about a balance of clarity and structure. Packer came up with the thought of a “scrapbook summer” a few years ago.
In 2023, she took her kids back to school and felt the summer spent together was wasted because it felt more like surviving than thriving. She felt this internal struggle with herself meant her intention with how time was spent was lost.
Over the past few years, Packer has created a pattern that has improved the time spent with her family over the summer. She said it's about having a summer where you are creating memories that are sad to leave behind.
When planning a summer that will always be remembered, consider these tips created by Packer.
Create clarity on how you want the summer to feel
Ask your kids how they want the summer to feel, and it may surprise you what they say. They could say chill, connected or adventurous. Those feelings are going to direct the decisions made.
Get intentional about having fun with a summer bucket list
Packer said this doesn't have to be as extreme as going to the Eiffel Tower. Ask your kids what they want to accomplish over the summer. This can be simple things like camping in the backyard, ice cream for dinner, or swimming. Once you have this list, you have a plan for summer.
Flesh out the Structure
Packer said she loves any kind of system that supports the idea of how we want to feel and connect.
To make these structures, Packer said to avoid Pinterest, Google, and Instagram. Make something that will work for your family.
Packer said for her family, they have a strict schedule in the morning, that allows adventures and free time for the rest of the day.
“If we want this feeling to be paramount, what is going to be a simple routine or a system that's going to make that possible?” Packer said.
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For more information about Monica, find her Instagram @aboutprogress
