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Nope, not doing it. I waved goodbye to summer work packets.
I want my kids to truly unwind, and honestly, I crave a break too.
By Jamie Collins
July 20, 2022
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I still remember the exhilarating feeling of stepping off the bus on the last day of school, knowing that a whole summer lay ahead for adventures with friends, swimming at the lake, and lying on the tire swing, watching fireflies dance. Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s meant summers were for fun, not filled with assignments.
Things shifted dramatically by the time my eldest started school. I can’t shake the sense of dread I felt when I discovered a hefty packet of math worksheets, a reading list, and a log for daily reading—twenty minutes a day, five days a week. The worst part? I was expected to oversee it all while managing two toddlers at home.
We trudged through that first summer, then the next. When my younger kids began school, they each came home with their own hefty math packets, and the reading requirements multiplied. I felt like I was losing my mind. By mid-July, I had to let it go and we only tackled schoolwork once a week. Ultimately, I decided to give it the middle finger and recognized that I was doing more harm than good.
I wanted my kids to enjoy a real break, and truthfully, I needed one too. It felt liberating to slow down. Juggling school activities and homework throughout the academic year is overwhelming enough. I didn’t want to stress about fitting in reading while on vacation or during spontaneous beach trips with friends. Trying to prevent my kids from sliding academically during their short break was causing me to slide as well. My patience wore thin; the thought of making them sit at the table for math when they’d rather be out collecting worms and making mud pies was unbearable.
Morning sessions never panned out. They were either hungry or needed to use the bathroom. They’d argue, I’d need a break, want to shower, or they’d be vying for some Disney Channel time. After a day at the beach or playing with friends, getting them to settle down was a struggle. Many times, they were too tired and cranky to focus, and I didn’t want to fight that battle because it would sap my energy for the rest of the day.
By the time I stopped enforcing summer schoolwork, my kids were 9, 7, and 6 years old. Admitting I couldn’t manage it felt shameful, especially when other moms seemed to handle it effortlessly. But I realized I wasn’t failing as a mother.
The reality is my kids don’t enjoy school. Unlike me as a child, they’re not naturally drawn to books. I began to see that a genuine summer break benefitted them more than forcing daily work. Sure, it seemed like a small amount of work compared to school year expectations, and if they had completed it without protest, I might have been on board. However, after taking a break from schoolwork, they returned to school feeling rejuvenated and eager to learn. They took pleasure in organizing their backpacks and were much more inclined to tackle homework after having a restful break.
I have no doubt they may have slipped academically over the summer, but honestly, those summers off fly by, and kids deserve to relish that time. If that means setting aside homework for a few months, I’m all for it.
Jamie Collins is a freelance writer living in Maine with her three children and two ducks. When she’s not writing, she might be indulging in online shopping or enjoying a Coke Zero.
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In summary, I decided against summer work packets for my kids, prioritizing their need for a real break and my own sanity. After letting go of academic pressure, they returned to school refreshed and more willing to learn, proving that a genuine summer break is invaluable for both children and parents.