By Betsy Voreacos

Summer gives us the opportunity to regroup, recharge, and relax. Our crazy schedules tend to ease up and we have more time for fun stuff! While routines clearly have their role in childrearing, breaking out of the rut can do everyone a whole lot of good. Here are 10 things you can say “Yes!” to this summer that will convince your kids you’re the best mom ever!

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Giving the dog a bath.

Who cares if he shakes his wet fur all over the backyard? Giving the beloved pooch a bath (outside of course!) is something the whole family will get a real kick out of.

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Staying up late.

It’s hard to go to bed before the sun goes down! Next time your child asks if he can stay up just a little later, surprise him with a “Sure!” And double his glee by allowing an extra book at bedtime.

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Getting wet.

That’s what towels were made for. Stop being such a stick-in-the-mud and let your kids splash around under the sprinkler, spray each other with the hose, and get nice and wet on a hot afternoon.

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Sleeping outside.

You’ve been promising all year long and now’s the time to let it happen. Kids love to camp out and they can do it right in the backyard. Put Dad on duty and enjoy an evening alone in the house!

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Cooking on the grill.

Don’t wait for dinner; throw a couple of hot dogs on the grill at lunchtime and wait for a “Hot-diggity-dog!” of a reaction.

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Get Summer-Ready With Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser doesn’t just work wonders indoors. Use it to clean your grill and patio furniture, too! (Just rinse thoroughly any surfaces that will come into contact with food.)

Going to the beach.

It’s NOT too much work. Okay, well, maybe it requires a little preparation and packing, but it’ll be SO worth it. Just pack up the car and the kids and head to the nearest seaside or lakeside sandy spot!


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Letting watermelon drip down their chins.

This may go against every grain in your body, but every now and then, just let the kids enjoy themselves and make a total mess when they eat (hopefully outside!).


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Getting ice cream in the middle of the day.

Remember, ice cream is a source of calcium! Surprise the kids with a trip to the best local ice-cream spot and enjoy a cone (or even a sundae, yum) with them.

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Skipping a bath.

Let them go to bed dirty. Or if they took a late-afternoon dunk in a chlorinated pool, surely that counts as a bath, right? Failing that, give their hands and faces (and maybe feet) a quick rinse in the sink. They’ll still think they got one over on you.

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Having a house full of friends.

There’s no better time to do it than in the summer when they can play outdoors. Go ahead, invite the whole neighborhood over!

What rules would you break in the name of summer fun?


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Betsy lives with her family a stone’s throw from New York City. An overly involved mother of three children, Betsy has always been acutely aware of her shortcomings as a parent, not to mention those of her children. She documents her life in the brutally honest Old Minivans Die Hard.

Having a house full of friends.

There’s no better time to do it than in the summer when they can play outdoors. Go ahead, invite the whole neighborhood over!

What rules would you break in the name of summer fun?


Image ©iStock.com/Wavebreakmedia

Betsy lives with her family a stone’s throw from New York City. An overly involved mother of three children, Betsy has always been acutely aware of her shortcomings as a parent, not to mention those of her children. She documents her life in the brutally honest Old Minivans Die Hard.