I don’t know about you, but even as an adult, I still operate under the assumption that the days of summer will be filled with more free time, fewer deadlines and a generally slower pace than during those other nine months of the year. As an adult, however, the summer months have become one of my busiest times at work as fiscal years end and begin, reports to funders need to be written, and planning for the upcoming year must be done. (Even I felt the added pressure of deadlines, as my ability to continue blogging and writing diminished last month. My apologies to my readers! )

Despite these realties, there is still a long-held belief, reinforced by years and years of enjoyable experiences, that summer is a time of relaxation, rejuvenation and fun. Unfortunately, for many parents and adults, summer no longer represents this idyllic scenario. For working parents, a category that encompasses the majority of parents these days, summer can represent a time of increased stress and demands. Finding camps, financing summer activities, and juggling childcare needs are just a few of the challenges that families face during this time of year. If a family is able to schedule a vacation, long hours of travel and changes in routine often leave young children and their parents feeling tired, cranky and irritable.

What are we to do? How do we find ways, even with our busy and hectic schedules, to enjoy this time of year and to appreciate the change in routine and pace? While I may not have the answer to those questions, I may have found a little help: www.sfkids.org is a website created by parents in the SF/Bay Area that provides a great variety of information on activities, adventures, camps, childcare, and even restaurants where children can eat for free! And while many of the events, activities and resources are centered in San Francisco, there is still a good deal of information on events in the surrounding communities. Check it out and maybe you’ll find some new, fun and affordable ways to enjoy the summer with your family!