Happy Thursday, friends!
Today, my post is all about my SUMMER ROUTINE.
You know how much I love a routine post, and SO MANY OF YOU have asked me to share this year’s summer routine!
Before we start, if you’ve missed the other routine posts, here they are:
MORNING ROUTINE: FALL 2020
VIRTUAL LEARNING
SPRING BEAUTY
BED MAKING
FITNESS
MORNING
BEDTIME
PRE-OP
MEAL PLANNING
THERAPY
INFLIGHT
Now, I really just think this meme says it best. This is my current SUMMER ROUTINE…
Agh!!!!
Anyone else?!
Friends, during the schoolyear, I feel like I have my routine down to a science but right now, during the summer, I’m just waking up and surviving the chaos most days. I kind of have a structure, but let’s be real…with four kids, the structure is often thrown out the window by 9:00 AM.
I’m not saying I manage this every single day, but on a good/average summer day, this is pretty much how I try and structure things…
4:10 ALARM GOES OFF
I get up, get coffee, do my Bible study and quiet time and then sit down and work until about 6:00ish when it’s time to…
6:00 WORKOUT
A few times a week, I workout with Erika and then on other days, I workout by myself. My workouts are typically about an hour.
7:00 EAT BREAKFAST
I typically grab breakfast and that second cup of coffee between 7 and 7:30. I also love to do Sudoku too while I eat 🙂 . I also try to squeeze in a dog walk somewhere in here too.
7:30 SHOWER AND GET DRESSED
I always shower first thing in the morning (rarely do I wash my hair in the morning during the summer) and then get dressed (most often with a swimsuit underneath!) for the day.
After I shower, I head back to my desk and work. From here until 11:00-ish, kids wake up, I make breakfast for them, clean up the kitchen, work some more, make the bed, work some more, you know…all of that stuff.
Around 11:00 each day, we…
…either head out to run any errands/appointments/etc that we might have or if we don’t have any…
…we head to the pool and swim and have lunch there (one less thing to make and/or clean up!). We do our fun afternoon activities until 1:30 or so and then, we head back home for the day.
AFTERNOON TIME
The afternoon for me is mostly spent working (until around 5 or 5:30) and the kids play. They play outside, they play inside…they craft, color, paint, use sidewalk chalk, ride bikes…it’s just a flurry of activity or sometimes, they watch a movie.
DINNERTIME
When it’s time for dinner, we all eat together and then thankfully, we don’t have a lot of evening activities so after dinner, we’ll either play outside, swim or get showered and watch a movie together. During the schoolyear, evenings are much busier than they are for us right now. This is also when we fold and put away laundry, empty the dishwasher and all of that fun stuff 😉 .
9:00 PM
Around 9:00, I shower, get my pjs on and then read until it’s time for bed (around 10:15). The little girls go to sleep around 9:00 but the big kids stay up later than me.
The next morning, we repeat.
Okay, so what do you do???
For me, it’s a juggle (not a balance) of working, parenting, having fun, working some more, having more fun and repeat. I would love to hear what kind of structure you have in place! I don’t love toggling back and forth between work and play, but after all of these years, it really seems like the best fit for our family. I’m always so curious about other people’s routines. Please comment and share with me! xo
Nikki says
Loved reading about your summer routine! Do you have links for your pajamas?
Mix and Match Mama says
They’re from Soma! I can go find the link!
Nikki says
IVe got the so a PJs in my cart. #happybirthdaytome
also, thanks for the tip on the TJs cheddar/cauliflower quiche. Finally tried it this morning…so tasty!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh my gosh, I love that breakfast so much!! Enjoy!
Jen says
Dolly Parton nailed it
Mix and Match Mama says
100%!
Elspeth says
I love your routine posts!!!! I love how organized you are!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Kristi says
Will you please share your daily eats routine? Do you snack in the summer? Why is your go to lunch? Thanks! Loved this post!
Mix and Match Mama says
I can do that! I’m not a big snacker. Yesterday, I had some salt and vinegar pistachios in the afternoon, but I don’t always do that. I pretty much stick to three meals a day and maybe one little afternoon nibble.
Sarah says
Do you ever skip a work out? Or most often, not?
Mix and Match Mama says
Sometimes, but most often not.
Julie says
Thank you for sharing this! I also love hearing other working mom routines. I have three kids, 11, 13, 15. My day is much the same! Up at 6 am for quiet time, Peloton and meditation. Then eat breakfast alone and read your blog (heaven!) with coffee, and then shower and some combo of work-play-errands-walk dogs-get stuff done around the house. Do your kids “check in” with you a lot while you’re working for a stretch? I always struggle with how to “be around” for them but also actually get something accomplished!
PS-I got the little 30 day French chic book and I LOVE it, thanks for recommending!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh Julie!! You sound like a girl after my own heart!!! Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your morning routine!! My kids do check in with me quite a bit. If I’m on a call, I’ll shut my door and then they know to wait until I open it back up. They’re pretty respectful of my worktime…but then they sometimes aren’t. It’s a work in progress!
Shannon says
How has your new office location worked out during summer break?
Mix and Match Mama says
I think it’s been so helpful!! When I was downstairs in the laundry room, I was in the center of all the activity (kitchen, coming in and out of the backdoor, the backstairs, etc), but now, I have a little more privacy and I’m not so easily distracted.
Erika Slaughter says
Yes! Love that you said a juggle and not a balance. That sums up my days!
Paige E says
I’m not from Texas so I have a pool question. Why do those of you who have pools at home, also go to a public pool? Is it so everyone can have friend time? In a hot climate, I’ll bet its really helpful to have pool options everywhere! In VA, backyard pools are not the norm, but would be so nice! Except for the fall when all the leaves fall into it. 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I would loooooove to live in Virginia during the fall!!!!! We go to a more public pool during the day for the socializing. No matter when we go, my kids see friends or make friends, so it’s like a bonus playdate time. We do swim at home too, but during the day, we love to get out and see people for a bit.
Cathy Carter says
I changed my quiet time and Bible study to early morning after reading one of your posts. ❤️ It’s the little things that make a major difference!! Side note- do you have a link or brand name for the earrings you wore on the 4th? Hoops? Sent a picture through DM. ? thank you!!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Yay!! I’m so happy to hear that! I love having mine in the morning too!!! Okay, they’re from J Crew!! They’re super light!!
Cathy Carter says
Thank you!!
Keisha Dawson says
Love learning about how you fit in me time, kid time, and work time during the summer. Mine is a little different as my kids are older, and I work in an office. My alarm goes off at 5:10. I brush my teeth, put in my contacts, and get on the bike or go for a run. I shower and get ready for work to leave for the office by 7:30. We have a driver for the first time this summer, and it has made my life so much easier. He is able to get them to morning workouts or other activities they have during the day while I’m at the office. I get off work at 4, may run an errand or two, and I’m home no later than 5 to cook dinner and have family time.
Allyson says
Do your older kids have phones/iPads? Do you give them a bedtime? I have a 12 and 14 year old. We just usually set their screen time on their devices to go off at a certain time and that’s their cue to go to bed (they stay up later than my husband and I). I am getting some push back from my oldest about having a bedtime, but I believe not much good happens after midnight. How do y’all handle that?
Mix and Match Mama says
They don’t. They watch TV and stuff instead at night.
Anna says
Hey Shay, how do y’all decide whether you go to the community pool or stay at your pool? It seems like it would be so much easier to stay at home, but I bet your kids prefer the community pool for more friends?
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes! The pool is within walking distance from our house, so it’s really easy to get there and back each day, but they love seeing their friends, and then I love that they have that time with other people without the structure of an actual “play date”.
Kara says
I am curious about your older kiddos. I have a teen daughter and she sleeps until 10:30 or 11:00 almost every morning…is this the same with K? What about Smith during the summer? I know you said he is an early riser during the school year-has that changed over the summer? What time do they go to bed at night??
Also, does K still enjoy going to the pool? It seems the older they get, the less appeal it has for them.
Would love a post about the older kid’s routines and the different changes from elementary age….but understand the need to protect their privacy. 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I would say that K for sure sleeps in the most but is always up by 9:30. Smith is usually up first and the little girls wake up somewhere in the middle (maybe 8:30-ish). K does still enjoy going to the pool, but she always finds friends there, so it’s a good social time for her too. I can incorporate more routine posts!! Totally!
Debra says
Sounds like you have your schedule pretty well mapped out. I’m retired and we’ve been empty nesters for many years. Family visits are the absolute best because we really do miss the noise and chaos. 😉
May I ask what body lotion you use? Your skin looks so svelte and shiny!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh! Thank you! I love the Bum Bum Cream from Sephora!
Christy says
Just curious…. what do your older kids do once you’re in bed? I love hearing how you do things, your eats, just all of it! I ordered the French “little things” book. I can’t wait to read it!!!!
Mix and Match Mama says
You’re going to love it!! My older kids watch TV, laugh a lot, make some noise, sometimes, I think they make a snack…they always hang out together, and we just kind of try and let them be.
Suzanne says
Would you mind sharing where you got the pale pink oriental rug?
Mix and Match Mama says
In my office? I have it linked in my office post here: https://mixandmatchmama.com/2021/03/the-mix-and-match-mama-office/
Charlene says
Do you worry about what the big kids will see on tv when you have gone to bed? Just the titles of shows on the tv guide, can be raunchy. Bravo shows will have scenes and sexual discussions of things that would have R (or x) ratings back in the day. Do you any kind of restrictions on that availability?
Mix and Match Mama says
Well, they are together watching TV which helps, but right now, we have no reason not to trust them (if that changes, our rules will too). We are suuuuuper picky about what they can watch on TV and they all know the rules. The rules are also that if you know your sibling is doing something they shouldn’t be doing and you don’t let me know, you get in the exact same amount of trouble. We’re trying to give them a little bit of independence and freedom while also under the restrictions we’ve established…so far, it seems to be working.
Lauren says
Wow, I love this rule!
Jessica says
At what age were your kids able to go off and play on their own well? Any tips for encouraging it, especially with a boy?
My kids are 6 (girl), 4 (boy) and 2 (girl). For the first time I’m working from home permanently and at about 25 hours a week. We have a nanny take them from 9-1 and then I often have some work to finish up in the afternoon. My 6yo is great, will go off with barbies forever. But the 4 and 2 yo need me to play with them or give them direction on play. Especially my son. He wants the ipad but I try to be very limited with it. I feel bad and maybe I’m expecting too much but I just need him to go figure out something to play with sometimes!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh 2 is hard! I would say once they all hit 4, things got much easier. My kids aren’t always happy about finding things to do, but I remind them that back in the 1980s when I was little, we had to go “make our own sunshine” (I say that to them all the time, ha!). They sometimes need me to remind them that I am not their cruise director and they can find their own things to do (at these ages), but when they were super small (like 2), it was MUCH harder.
Momof4 says
Do you follow Busy Toddler on Instagram? She has so many easy-to-set-up activities for toddlers that might give you a few minutes to work while you supervise! And often for my kids, the activities would develop into their own creative play which lasted even longer. She helped me survive the afternoons during the toddler years! I hope that is helpful 🙂
Raquel says
What was your morning routine when they were babies? I have a 14 month old who is awake at 5:30a every morning so I don’t feel like I can get a whole lot done! Plus supervision 24/7 throughout the day. I try my best to take advantage of her nap!
Mix and Match Mama says
I lived for naptime when they were babies!! I planned my entire day around that pocket of time and got SO MUCH DONE during it because when they were awake, they had my undivided attention. I still woke up early but didn’t work until later in the morning when I took them with me to a baby stroller strides class. My routine was much different back then.
Sheaffer Sims says
My wakeup time is definitely later in the summer, but then I do feel like I’m playing catch up the whole day. I sure do love the extra sleep though! 🙂
Catherine says
Thank you for sharing this! How you fit in work and being present with the kids. Out and home. Sometimes, often, I feel like I’m not doing enough of either , but this reminds me to be present in those pockets of time! It also gives me permission to go to bed before my kids so I can be up before my kids!
Mix and Match Mama says
I struggle with that too!!! Thank you for the encouragement!!
Laura says
What is your go to lunch in the summer? Do you change what you eat depending on if you’ll be in a bikini?! ??
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s typically some sort of salad. I would say it changes a bit just because it’s so hot outside, so I want more salads than in the winter when I want more gooey cheese!
Amanda @ That Inspired Chick says
I love hearing about all your routines! I mean, it totally makes me realize that I’m an unorganized hot mess but it also inspires me to get my act together a little better. ? I need you to be my Life Coach. Mix & Match Life Coaching sounds like a killer business idea. ? #justsayin
That Inspired Chick
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh please, friend! You’re killing it over there!!
Shannon says
Like you, we do not have any sort of summer time structure! My husband and I are both teachers, so we are lucky enough to be off together with our son. This year, we are road tripping through the midwest, but we’ll do some swimming and cooking out when we get home. School will be starting again before we know it, and I want to try to do some closet clean outs and things like that beforehand. I still am in awe of how you can get up so early and get that workout in. I am not as motivated… haha!! Hope you all enjoy your summer days together!!
Shannon in PA
PS – Did I miss the tutorial when you showed us how you do your braids? I saw the one with the small braids in front, but I noticed you’ve been wearing full braids lately, too.
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes!! I just posted it last Friday!! It’s so easy!! YOU enjoy your summer!! Thank you both for teaching!!!
Shannon says
Thanks so much, Shay! 🙂
And where do I find the tutorial? Somewhere on IG?
Mix and Match Mama says
Last Friday’s blog post! The one titled Shay’s Ultimate Beach Trip Packing List!
Shannon says
Got it. Thanks!!
Melissa says
Have you always been a morning person? I want so badly to have that time in the morning before my kiddos are up (2.5 yo and 1 yo twins) because its all hands on deck when theyre up — how are you so energetic on 6ish hours of sleep? I need all the tips!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh good grief, you have three kids under three! Girl, SLEEP! You can wake up early later when they’re in school, but seriously, get your rest now!! My babies are all big. If I had three kids under three at home right now, I’d be in bed 😉 .
Carolyn says
I’m having a difficult time finding GF tortillas…where do you buy them? Thanks!
Mix and Match Mama says
Trader Joe’s!!
Carolyn says
What brand? What type? Corn?
Thanks!!
Mix and Match Mama says
They’re the Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Tortillas right next to the other g-free breads on the bread aisle.
Sara says
Would you have a moment to detail what your quiet time looks like? I am just now starting my spiritual journey getting to know Jesus and would love a template! I use the Bible app because of you! ? So for example, do you read and make notes and pray? Just read and think? Thank you! ?
Mix and Match Mama says
I’m so happy to hear this, Sara!! I actually have a post on the topic. Please, please, please let me know if you have ANY questions after you read it!
https://mixandmatchmama.com/2020/05/my-daily-quiet-time/
April Bryan says
My husband and I are both teachers so our summer routine is completely different than the school year. For the first couple of weeks we teach swim lessons or teach summer school so everyone is in complete survival mode. Once we are done working for the summer we finally relax and take a few vacations before school starts. Daily routine- sleep in till 8ish, workout, swim, chores, dinner, late nights with movies/swim, repeat.
Mix and Match Mama says
No one deserves a restful summer more than you guys!! I hope this year’s is amazing!
Rachel says
Have your kids always been good at independently playing?
I think our generation sometimes feels we need to entertain our kids which is so draining on parents.
My daughter gets frustrated and bored so easily. How do you encourage your kids to play while you work!? 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I think they’re pretty good and independently playing. I do think it helps that there are four of them and that they’re all a bit older. It was harder when they were younger. I just think of myself as a kid their age…my mom was so great and did so much for us, but she certainly wasn’t our cruise director. Many times, we had to make our own fun at home with each other.
Katie says
Routine here is up at 7:30, walk the dog 1 mile, take the 15, 13, 10 year old kids to camp by 8:15 (14 year old did not want to go this summer), gym on the way home (or work out later at home depending on work), work/run errands/do house stuff until 5:30 then pick up kids. Make dinner, watch a show with the kids, bedtime! More relaxed in the summer for sure!
Vanessa F. says
Hi Shay! I love reading your blog and am always so inspired by your routines! I am curious, I know you have posted your eating routine before and I don’t recall seeing anything that would give you energy for your busy lifestyle aside from coffee . With waking up so early, do you take specific supplements, or a preworkout? Just looking for tips for energy for myself through the day. I find I need an afternoon nap and it just won’t cut it with everything going on in our day. Thank you !
Mix and Match Mama says
I don’t take any supplements or anything like that. I guess I find my energy in exercise, being outdoors, eating a pretty balanced diet and just sheer enthusiasm for life. I will say though, I am a bit tired, but I just don’t give into it. I’d rather do other things than sleep some days.