There’s No Summer with a Toddler

home insemination Kit

I have faint memories of eagerly counting down the days to summer as a kid. Back then, summer meant no more homework, no teachers, and certainly no more dodgeball games where I was always the last pick. It was a time for lazy afternoons by the pool, evenings filled with popsicles, and blasting Elton John from my boombox. (Seriously, “Crocodile Rock” was a classic!) It was a season of sleeping in, staying up late, and occasionally sneaking off to Walt Disney World for a spontaneous adventure.

But now? Is it summer already?

As the parent of a spirited 2-year-old, I can tell you that summers have lost their charm. Kids under five have no real structure, apart from mealtimes and naptimes—though even those feel like a game of toddler roulette. Each day blurs into the next, starting with diaper changes and requests for milk and Elmo, and wrapping up with more cookies, Elmo, and another diaper change. (Seriously, what is the obsession with that little red monster? I was always Team Super Grover!) We sing “Wheels on the Bus” so many times each week that I secretly wish for that bus driver to faceplant, just to get a break from the endless repetition.

Snacks happen on the kitchen floor while we color or paint, but don’t get too excited about the “or”—every craft session ends with a mess that looks like a paper-shredding tornado hit our living room. Everything ends up scattered across the floor—blocks, books, toys, you name it. Each night, I find myself spending at least a half-hour cleaning up this whirlwind of chaos. Days blend together into an endless cycle that would leave even Phil Connors tearing his hair out.

So, the concept of summer? It doesn’t exactly thrill me. Here’s why: 1) I can’t sleep in, 2) staying up late is a distant memory, 3) time off is a joke, and 4) cocktails before 4 p.m. are, apparently, frowned upon. Instead of carefree summer days, it feels like one long, sweaty, mosquito-filled slog.

But there’s a silver lining—daycare. My daughter goes to part-time daycare, which gives me precious hours each week to catch up on work, run errands, and do all the things I now equate with “me time.” (Let me tell you, I had the most relaxing MRI a few months back!) Sure, I could take her out of daycare for summer and do fun activities like visiting the zoo or the playground, but honestly, why disrupt her routine and risk my sanity?

Let’s be real: I love my daughter, but she’s two. She hasn’t even hit the 1,000-day mark yet! I have cans of tuna older than her! She eats Kix off the floor and thinks kitty litter is a toy. Do I really think she’ll appreciate a day at the botanical gardens or the waterpark? Nope. They might enjoy a few moments, especially if ice cream is involved, but every day inevitably ends in tears—who’s crying is still up for debate. At daycare, she’s surrounded by dedicated teachers who enrich her life in ways I can’t when I’m working, plus she gets built-in playdates, saving me from awkward chats at the park.

So if you’re having a nostalgic summer filled with carefree memories, enjoy it for me! I’ll be thinking of you each morning when I wake up at 6 a.m. and dive headfirst into another day of familiar routines—just like yesterday and the day before that.

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In summary, the idea of summer has shifted dramatically for me as I navigate the joys and challenges of parenting a toddler. While carefree days by the pool may be a thing of the past, I find solace in the little moments and the routine that helps keep me sane.