This post contains affiliate links + gifted items.
As summer is coming to an end, and school is starting back TOMORROW(online), it has me reflecting on our quarantine summer. I had told Chauncey awhile back that it made me sad that our kids would never get to experience a summer like we did growing up. . .instead of staying home and running wild, they would always be in daycare or at camps. Yea, are you laughing yet? I’m laughing at me from 6 months ago too.haha Anyways, thanks to coronavirus, our kids got the summer of our childhoods.
MY OUTFIT: Lilly Pulitzer Elsa Top in Swizzle In (also here)// Lilly Pulitzer Buttercup shorts–my color is sold out // Kendra Scott vintage gold Margot necklace c/o // Kendra Scott Margot earrings || KAROLINE’S OUTFIT: Lilly Pulitzer big girls shift in Swizzle In // bow || KANE’S OUTFIT: The Beaufort Bonnet Company Prim & Proper Polo–similar color // navy shorts || CHAUNCEY’S OUTFIT: short sleeved button down in navy dots // khaki chino shorts
First, we spend a LOT of time at home. Our kids basically got to do what they wanted to all day long. I wish Disney+ had a counter for how many times we watched Frozen and Frozen 2, because I think we set a record. We went on a walk around the neighborhood most evenings. The kids had a blast but missed seeing their friends. Kane did have a very socially distanced birthday party in early June, and saw friends a few times. We’ve even visited with friends in their driveways.
In mid-June, the kids went to stay with my parents for several days. HALLELUJAH! I love my kids, but by that point, Chauncey and I were at a breaking point. They had fun seeing family and running WILD, like you do at your grandparents’ house. Chauncey and I breathed multiple sighs of relief and basked in the freedom of no kids. And you know what? That’s ok. It’s ok to need a break. It doesn’t mean we love our children any less.
In July, we decided to take a very socially distanced trip to the beach. We rented a house in Cherry Grove, SC with a private pool and a golf cart. Since we vacationed with close family friends, the kids had a blast playing together. Precautions we took included covid tests before traveling, no dining out, social distancing at the beach, and covid tests when we got back. We felt very safe while we were gone. I think we’ve all been on edge since March. It was amazing to get away for a week and just relax.
After we got back from vacation, the kids started back to daycare. Kentucky is doing smaller groups at daycare centers, and we waited a few weeks after ours initially reopened to send the kids. While I’m still apprehensive about them being there, it was a great way to end summer for them as they got to see their friends they had been missing so much.
It wasn’t an exciting summer, but honestly, it was the summer that we needed. I know Karoline really won’t remember it when she gets older, but I hope that Kane will always remember his old school summer.
