We're Not Saying You Want to Avoid Your Kids, but Here Are 10 Ways to, Well, Do Just That

The truth about Summer is that we're all in the same boat, juggling camps, family vacations, and a lot of empty days to fill for our kids. Partner up with another family with children who get along with your own, and arrange a kid swap. You watch their kids for an afternoon, evening, or even overnight, and they'll do the same for you on a prearranged date.

My town's pools don't open until 11 a.m., which means I have about four hours every morning to fill for my kids, and my gym's childcare program is a lifesaver. Whether I drop them off for 45 minutes so I can fit in a quick, sanity-saving workout, or for two full hours (my gym's maximum time) for a workout, steam, and shower, we all enjoy the structure and change of scenery the gym provides.

In most towns, kid-focused Summer camps abound. Research local sports groups, park districts, pools, and preschools to see if they have a full-day or partial-day camp that still has availability. In my cases, it won't be too late to register.

Teaching your kids to entertain themselves (and independence in general) is a good thing, and if you get the added benefit of some alone time, it's even better. Once your kids are old enough, set a daily time when everyone is required to play or read independently for 30-60 minutes. Set an alarm to help them keep to it.

While hosting a play date might just seem like it will add to your Summer stress, most of the time it has the awesome side effect of meaning your kids will also be invited to other kids' houses for future play dates, giving you a breather. Just be mindful of only letting your children invite friends who have generous and reciprocating parents.

If you live in a neighborhood with a lot of middle and high school kids, now's the time to mine them for potential babysitters. These older kids are looking for Summer activities (and funds), too, so ask around and see if you can add to your potential sitter list, then start lining up some help.

What is grandma camp? Well, it's basically handing over parenting duties to your parents or in-laws for a set amount of time, which they'll fill with trips to the park, crafts you'd never attempt, and more ice cream cones than any kid should probably consume. Basically, it's a win for everyone.

Your local park district (or one in a neighboring town) is a treasure trove of supervised Summer activities for kids. Depending on their ages and interests, you'll find camps for children who love sports, cooking, crafts, nature, superheroes, and so much more; one-off classes and activities; and even the occasional parent drop-off times (i.e. cheap babysitting). Some fill up almost immediately, but more specialized, shorter camps and activities tend to have availability well into the Summer season.

If you're a stay-at-home mom or your family's lead parent, Summer is the time to ask your partner to step up. Plan a biweekly mom's night out, sign up for an evening Pilates or yoga class, or just save grocery shopping and errands for after your spouse gets home. Because a solo trip to Target is always a good idea.

Summer days can seem never-ending when you're a mom of kids small enough to need a lot of attention and big enough that you're used to them being in some kind of school program for at least part of most days. I, for one, am so exhausted by the time my husband gets home that I can barely muster a "how was your day?" Give yourself a break and strengthen your marriage by planning a weekend getaway, where you can nap, relax, do kid-unfriendly activities, and reconnect.