You spent all year rushing towards it – and now it's finally here.

Did summer catch you by surprise? It got me, and I’ve had all the traditional parenting surprises that comes along with a first-born.

-The first projectile vomit (that manages to land in your mouth).

-The first “I almost dropped the baby!” (from laughing so hard after watching said vomit drip off your glasses).

-The first diaper blowout (plus the two months it took to realize a blowout meant it was time to size up).

-The first “5 Second Rule” follow (when you’re just too tired to care that it fell on the floor).

There are so many firsts. The first laugh, step, smile and word. The first day of school. The first trip to the emergency room. The first time you realize your child isn’t the only one in a classroom full of kids.

The first time you realize your baby is no longer a baby.

But I never realized our First Summer would be a first. Throughout the school year, we raced to pickups and dropoffs, lunches, and performances.

Then, poof! I picked my daughter up on the last day of school and it hit me – my daughter would be home, with me.

All.Summer.Long.

Our First "Official" Summer

It’s our first “official” summer together. I’m excited, and terrified. Summer #1 is a milestone I didn’t even realize was approaching. And now it’s 100% MY JOB to ensure my child thrives (or at least exists) for the next 2.5 months.

Because now there’s no teacher greeting us every morning, with a grin and a schedule. Instead, there’s spilled cereal and tv shows at 6am, when your child decides that after 9 months of being dragged out of bed every morning, June is a good time to step it up – by turning into an early bird.

What’s a mom to do with her daughter’s first summer?

Summer Camp was nixed, because my daughter was exhausted. And stressed kids become sick, depressed, anxious kids. She needed some time off. There’s time for camp when she’s older.

We declined a Throwback Summer, because I can’t handle the stress of being “stress-free.” If you can do it, parenting hats are off to you! Rock those sleep-ins and kicked-outside-for-hours kids. (I’m down, and I’ll try it in a few years…when my kid can remember that my real name is not “Mommy.”)

This first summer, we’re hunting for our Summer Sweet Spot. That special combination of the routine

and the novel. We’re focusing on a routine with some room for surprise. Household chores, followed by an ice cream outing. We’ll hit the pool twice in one day, or have a lazy movie day. Last Friday night was an outdoor picnic on a hot summer’s night.

And if my daughter watches an extra TV show or two, or stays up too late visiting with Grandma, we’re shaking it off. I promised myself that this summer, I wouldn’t be a perfect parent, but I would be a great parent.

S.O.S. vs. The Perfect Summer?

I’m searching for that special place, where kids are kids, days are sunny, and nights are sleepy. I’ll know it when I find it, but it’s somewhere in between The S.O.S. (Stress Of School) and The Perfect Summer. I’m catching glimpses of the Sweet Spot, and it’s a great reminder of why I wanted to be a parent in the first place.

Summer is here. I‘m trying to figure out what I should do…but the question is, are you?