by BabyCenter Guest Blogger posted in Tips & Tricks

By Kelly Flannigan Bos
It's happening again. I thought this summer would be different. The calendar looked wide open but it's filled up fast. Summer feels busy, chaotic; like it's slipping through my fingers. This is not what I want for my family or for me.
The very idea of summer comes with hopes for a slower pace and a time to unwind. While we picture summer as floating lazily down the river, it more often resembles a tense ride over a water fall. The momentum of the vacation days, overnight camps, family visits, barbecues with friends quickly take over, and, before we know it, school has started again.
Time flies when we make summer too busy. And that busyness is brought on by good intentions, fear of missing out, and pressure to keep up with the Jones'. Before we know it, our desire to create perfect summer memories for our children ends up being the perfectly over-scheduled summer. We fear our kids will suffer if they're not keeping up with their peers, but if the pace of summer is a priority, perhaps less is more. We need to slow down. And we need to do it now, before it's too late.
Here's how:
1. Keep it simple
Take a deep breath and think about your own summer memories. I'm guessing the best ones were rarely born out of the big plans, but rather experienced in the unhurried moments of smelling lilac bushes, hanging out in the neighborhood with friends, lying on freshly cut grass, and chasing the ice cream truck...