From the slightly frazzled Mammy Squirrel
Well, here we are again. The summer holidays have arrived, dragging their sticky fingers, mismatched socks, and half-eaten rice cakes along with them.
And breathe.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve been clinging to the final threads of routine like they were a lifeboat made of snacks and hope. Because let’s be honest, when structure disappears, our little squirrel brains can go into full freefall. And that’s not just the kids. That’s me too.
This year, I’m doing it differently.
This is the first summer I’ve had proper childcare lined up. And what a difference it’s already making! To my energy, my business, and my ability to sit down without someone needing another snack, right now.
We’ve got set “mammy days” and set “work days,” and I’m trying (really trying) not to blur the lines between them. It means the kids get all of me when I’m with them, and my clients get the same on work days. No more juggling Zoom calls with glitter explosions in the background.
Just small, steady boundaries to protect my peace and theirs.
The Summer Game Plan (still chaos but slightly more organised):
💜 A “Yes Day” This is where the kids pick the plans and we say yes to anything that doesn’t involve glitter in the curtains or climbing actual buildings. They love it. I may survive it, hopefully.
💜 Crafts & Science Experiments — we order a couple of boxes at the start of summer filled with messy, marvellous bits and bobs. It’s a lovely way to fill a morning, and if we’re lucky, they learn something (and so do I). These are some of our favourites from previous years (please note, if you buy through these links I will receive a small commission).
- Glow Rock Painting Kit – this one is great for keeping the kids entertained and you can take it a step further and take the rocks to different locations, like a local park and you can visit them throughout the holidays.
- FunzBo Arts and Crafts Supplies Kit – This one works really well if your kiddos are a little older and they have a good imagination! My boy loves having crafts like this as he can make anything he feels like (usually transformers or dragons).
- 100+ Science Lab Experiments Kit – This one is always our firm favourite – we bought this kit last summer and it lasted a full year of rainy days!
💜 The Summer Wishlist. We sit down together and make a list of places to visit, people to see, and the treats that make us feel good. It’s not about being busy, it’s about choosing moments that help us to stay connected when life is a bit hectic.
💜 Movie Nights. PJs on, snacks out, phones away. Nothing fancy. Just us, together. Enjoying some quiet time as a family.
💜 Beach Days. Because something magical happens when our feet hit the sand. The world softens. The noise lowers. And even just ten minutes by the sea seems to make us all feel a little calmer.
And then there’s NeuroFest
This one’s a biggie for me. I’ll be at the Centre for Life for NeuroFest, meeting other neurodivergent parents, selling my book, and celebrating the beautifully different ways our brains work. If you’re nearby, please pop in and say hello… I’ll be the purple-haired squirrel woman smiling awkwardly behind a table of books and mugs and I’d love to see a familiar face.
The Honest Bit
I won’t lie and pretend I’ve got it all together. I’m still just a mam trying to keep the plates spinning without losing my marbles, and some days I am 100% going to lose them. But this summer, I’m letting good enough be good enough.
Some days will be slow. Some will be wild. There’ll be moments of pure joy, and many moments when I hide in the bathroom for five minutes of silence. That’s just real life. And we’re allowed to feel it all.
I’d love to hear your tips
If you’ve got routines that help, or activities that save your sanity, I’d love to hear them. We’re not meant to do this on our own, we’re meant to have a village. So here I am, waving at you from mine.
Wishing you calm moments, kind days, and the strength to step over the Lego barefoot without crying.
Love,
Mammy Squirrel
