The pandemic has disrupted so much of our daily lives that it can be hard to look on the bright side. As a parent, you may be feeling more than the usual amount of pressure. But you can still end the summer on a high note before the kids go back to doing virtual school.
Maybe the end of summer isn’t something we traditionally feel like celebrating, but we all deserve a little break from the heat and the stress of dealing with a global crisis. So, let’s seize any opportunity for celebration. Here are some quick and easy ideas to celebrate the end of summer—or any random Wednesday in August.
1. Have a Backyard Camp Out
Sleeping outside under the stars is one of the best ways to celebrate the end of summer. You can make this as simple as setting up a tent and bringing out the sleeping bags or as complicated as roasting marshmallows on the grill, telling ghost stories, and playing flashlight tag (bonus: you can play flashlight tag, while physically distancing, so invite your kids’ friends!).
2. Enjoy Grilled Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Sandwiches
If you have a garden, you likely have some tomatoes that are getting perfectly ripe right about now. One great way to enjoy the fruits of your garden labor-of-love is to chop up those juicy tomatoes, add fresh basil, and make grilled mozzarella sandwiches. You can also skip the bread and drizzle some olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a delicious salad.
3. Take a Drive
There are so many interesting places to visit right in our own backyard that even if you don’t feel safe enough to travel more than a few hours from home, you can still take a drive to a cool destination. All of these places are less than a 2-hour drive from the Triangle:
Carrboro and Chapel Hill: hit the Farmers Market in Carrboro (on Saturdays and Wednesdays) and then check out UNC’s campus and see what’s happening on Franklin Street.
Raleigh: The NC Museum of Art has an amazing sculpture park where kids can ride bikes or just run around the grounds. There’s also Umstead State Park or Dorothea Dix Park
Hillsborough: The riverwalk in Hillsborough is a nice, shady trail to walk. The kids can splash in the Eno River and you can stop for ice cream after your walk.
Fayetteville: There is a lot to do in Fayetteville. The shops and restaurants downtown offer fun window shopping and fabulous eats. You could also get lost in the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.
Winston-Salem: If interesting history is what you’re looking for, Winston-Salem has you covered. You could easily spend a whole day learning about this community (and it’s not all about Big Tobacco, either). The Downtown Arts District is also a fun place to browse.
4. Stream a Concert Online
Since the pandemic hit in March, performers have been looking for innovative ways to continue sharing their art. Many artists have streamed live concerts in the past few months and many of these are still available on YouTube. In addition, the Grammy Museum has put some of their performances filmed in the Clive Davis Theater online.
5. Start Planning Your Next Family Trip
Even if you can’t travel to the destination of your choice now, you can still make plans for whenever we can freely travel again. Start dreaming with the whole family about where you want to go. Explore a new area online and look for all of the best places to visit. You can encourage kids to write about or draw their dream vacation and even plan a themed dinner or party to keep building the excitement.
The Summer of 2020 hasn’t been the ideal summer for many reasons. But this is no reason to simply let the time slip through our fingers. We can still celebrate. And there’s no better cause for celebration than being together and having some fun.
What are you doing to celebrate?
The Exchange Family Center is here for you during the pandemic. If you’re looking for some pandemic parenting support, we can help. Contact us to learn more about our free, confidential, support over the phone. We’re all in this together!