In many parts of the world, the Summer school break is the longest and parents as well as students (children, teenagers and adult) look forward to it and sometimes dread it.
Parents most especially dread it because now they have the children around for a long period of time and keeping them busy and hanging out with them can be stressful but this shouldn’t be. Alternatively, having them around provides a great opportunity for parents and offspring/wards to bond, enjoy new experiences and makeup for the other times when they’ve got only limited time to spend with one another. The question now is, how do you make the best of this holiday?

For starters, we understand parents are typically busy. So you may want to form the habit of syncing your annual leave with that of your children’s summer break so you can have as much time to bond and have a beautiful holiday with them as possible.

Then, save towards the summer holiday so you have enough for a great time. You see, I learnt something from a friend of mine. For her annual holiday with the kids she creates a piggy box, yep ‘kolo’ where she drops her extra cash and just about any cash she can in it. Then when it’s time for the holidays she breaks it and has so much saved up for the family holiday. It might not be a kolo, yours might be a savings/target savings account, buying tickets when it’s cheaper or just about any interesting way you can save up for the holiday.

Yeah… then draw up a list of fun things to do and places to go during the holidays and be sure to include all parties – spouses and children when drawing up the list. Remember that a holiday is all about resting, bonding and fun memories. If there are places you all have wanted to visit or things you wanted to do, be sure to include them in the list. The memories you share together stays with you all through your life. Make it count.

Now, we know that there’s a global inflation and there’s the Tinubulization of the economy. However, remember that a beautiful holiday does not start and stop with traveling outside the country. If it’s in your budget please, do so; but if you can’t, you’ll be amazed at the wonderful holiday spots we have in the country. Whichever side of the divide you belong to, just have fun, ok😎!

Also don’t forget to dress for the weather. It is so interesting the wide variety of weather round the world. In Nigeria, it is the raining season, but soon the August Break will be here. This period is somewhat cold, so you have to be prepared. In other countries, the summer weather ranges from humid to hot and dry, this means it is important to go around with water/a water bottle to prevent dehydration.

Ah… lest I forget, please don’t forget to be thankful for the gift of life, the joy of family and just flow with a heart of gratitude. Things might not always be the way we want it, but we can change the narrative and the situation/how you feel about the situation when you choose to thank God against all odds.

That said, I wish you happy holidays and pray this is the best you have ever had in Jesus name, amen! 🤗