Summer break builds a sense of expansiveness in kids that few things can match. For them, the season means water gun battles, treehouse building, dawn-to-dusk games of tag, and, of course, no school. For parents, however, summer means no more school, which means having to find ways to occupy their kids’ time. And, for many, that creates a very different sense — one of panic. As the school year is quickly wrapping up, moms and dads all around the country are starting to lose their shit at the prospect of no real schedule. How are they going to entertain their kids? What fresh havoc will their kids wreak when they’re unbound by a schedule. Thankfully, a lot of these worried parents are taking to Twitter to express their frustrations. And it’s great. Here, for your enjoyment are 13 parents expressing their summer dread.
Redefining Success
My kids have been on summer break for a full day and they've only played with one rusty nail so I'm calling it a success.
— Wendy S. (@maughammom) May 26, 2017
How Quickly Things Change
I can't wait to hang /w/ my kids for the 1st 5 minutes of summer & then spend the rest of the 129,595 mins of summer crying lemonade tears.
— Walking Outside (@WalkingOutside) May 24, 2017
They’re Out to Get You
Son 1: I bet I can drive her crazy by day 3.
Son 2: I bet I can do it by day 2. Winner gets 15 Pokémon cards.
Son 1: Deal!
*Summer break
— mycrazywritinglife (@mycrazywriting) May 30, 2017
A Fresh Perspective
As a child, summer smelled like freshly cut grass and pool chlorine. As a parent, summer smells like stinky socks and sunscreen.
— Jennifer S. White (@yenniwhite) May 30, 2017
Conflicting Parenting Styles
Guess which parent is more excited for me to be home this summer pic.twitter.com/wSWOxu37ZN
— Brinnae Behrends (@bbehrends2) May 19, 2017
A Haunting Message
The worst words in the Parent language are:. Summer Break
— A Man (@nffc65) May 18, 2017
Summer Superpowers
I'll never understand why it's so hard to get kids up for school, but the first day of summer vacation, they're wide awake before 6 a.m.
The Summer Anthem
*School's Out For Summer* and its ominous drumming now mean something completely different now that I'm a parent.
— Amanda Dana (@amandadana123) May 25, 2017
The Breaking Point
One hour into my kids' summer break and I have already said, "don't throw rocks over the fence at the neighbors just because you're bored!"
— Tragic Ally (@TragicAllyHere) May 26, 2017