My husband is a teacher at a local high school. So come the end of May he’s home for a solid two months and then some. While I love all the extra family together time, it also throws us all for a loop. The routine I have set up for the other 10 months of the year basically falls apart and I’m left standing there thinking: “What the heck just happened?” I know I’m not the only SAHM out there that deals with this. I’ve put together my list of pro’s and con’s because as much as I love my hubby, sometimes I can’t wait for him to get back to work. 
Pro: I have help
- Hello, extra set of hands!!! This is one aspect of the “not so routine” summer routine I can get on-board with. Having my husband home to help do things like laundry, yard work, herd children, cook, etc. is amazing. It also allows us to focus on the kids more, do more extravagant things as a family, and makes outings while toting along a 5-month-old more bearable.
Con: Bye-Bye-Bye Routine
- Saying this past school year was intense is an understatement . We had a baby during the holidays, moved during spring break, and have spent the past 8 months planning our wedding and family honeymoon to Disney. This year’s routine has been crucial to our (my) survival. However, once my husband and oldest child are home for the summer all of that order goes straight out the window. It becomes a mix of kids and adults getting up at all different times, family adventures around the area, and the list goes on and on. The predictability of the school year is gone and I feel like I’m left scrambling for any small routine I can get my hands on. It has been even more noticeable this year because of our baby and her new found screeching ability that alerts us to a missed nap time or feeding time.
Pro: My Husband Cooks
- I got super lucky in this department ladies. My husband actually loves to cook and mainly does it the entire year. However, in the summer time he gets super fancy with his meal planning. This is a time where we try out new things and introduce new menu items to the family. I also love it for him because it’s a passion of his and enjoys every moment of the process. So woohoo for a happy hubby and full belly!
Con: He’s a Sports Coach
- While his coaching adds extra income to our family, it also makes most of July a hot mess. Early conditioning meetups are hit or miss. There are times 8 players will tell him they’ll meet him for a couple hours to go over basics of the sport only to have all of them bail by the time the practice day comes. The inconsistency then leaves the rest of us waiting in limbo, especially if what we have planned for the day involves him, too. Don’t get me wrong I love that he does this, but goodness does it mess with our schedule sometimes.
Pro: “Us” Time
- This aspect of the summertime is one that I truly cherish. The school year is so rushed and hectic that most times I find myself “missing” him even though he’s right there with me. During the summer we can actually slow down a bit and enjoy each other. Even if it’s just us sitting on our porch by the light of the citronella candles and sharing a $7.99 bottle of wine from Kroger. It’s our “us” time and I cling hard to the memories of those moments during the crazy times.
At the end of the day, my husband’s job is one that allows me to stay home and raise and mother our children. He provides us with our needs (most importantly) and our wants when he’s able. I’m proud to be the wife of a teacher, but sometimes summer break just can’t end soon enough.
Tell us about your summertime family dynamics and why you “love” or even “hate” this time of year.
