See Ya, Summer!

As summer comes to an end I would like to say, "Thanks Summer, it's been fun but I am over the heat, the pool and my kids boredom. Unfortunately for you school starts as you end....So, Bon Voyage!
I have no doubt I will welcome you with open arms next year but for now, we're done".

In celebration, a couple lessons learned from my experiences this and past summers to hopefully make your life a bit easier for future summertime fun!

So, here it goes...

Tip #1
First aid kids should be stashed everywhere:
Car
Pool Bag (we'll come back to this one)
Diaper bag/purse

Addison took quite a fall at the pool this summer and as I went to help her I realized I didn't have anything in my pool bag that would fix this big of a "boo boo". Lifeguards had band-aids for paper cut wounds, which was not helpful at all. I learned my lesson to start bringing some supplies on pool trips because inevitably someone is going to hurt themselves. Concrete and water don't make for the best conditions for little ones quick feet.
Target sells some great pre-made first aid kits that are $6 and have a good stock inside them. You can also make it at home with the basics: Neosporin, band-aids, tylenol..etc, doesn't have to be a beach bag full, just some go-to items. Why do you need these in so many places? Because I can't remember what I had for breakfast today much less to move my first aid kit from my purse to my pool bag. Save yourself some time and put them everywhere. Why else do I need them in so many places? Have you met Emma?

She's an on-the-go kind of gal and "boo boos" are just part of her daily routine. See...

Tip #2
Swim diapers DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT hold in pee. I think they are pretty amazing because they hold in the other stuff in, but if your little bundle of joy is sitting on your lap after playing in the water and you feel some warm water drizzle down your leg....it's not water. When you get your little one all swim diapered, bathing suited up, sun screened slathered and THEN put them in car seat, golf cart or stroller to go to pool...chances are that seat will be wet by the time you arrive.
So...for what's left of this summer and for future water ventures, I recommend putting on swim diapers when you arrive to your water destination and no sooner! I thought this was common knowledge but my encounter with some new moms and grandma's this summer told me I need to put this info out there!

See swim diaper on modeled on Emma below....see pee on sand directly below that.

Tip #3

Have you ever given your child some juice to cool them off from the days heat and hydrate them? Did you then notice they turn into an energizer bunny of sorts, that keep going and going until they literally drop? That my friends, is a sugar high and sugar DROP! I have experienced my kids on a juice sugar rush and that will not happen again.

Enter, naturally flavored water. Put some rasberries, strawberries, oranges, whatever your kids (and you) like in water bottle with water. Makes water a little bit more interesting for them and you know that you aren't getting 8-16 grams of sugar PER drink, like other "flavored waters".

Got anymore "summertime tips"? Post them in comments!

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