To all the adults, you really worked hard on the last day of summer vacation

[Introduction]

When summer vacation ends, while children might feel a bit reluctant saying, 'School starts tomorrow,' the hearts of adults are filled with a mix of relief—'Finally, I can return to my daily routine!'—and a sense of exhaustion from having 'made it through every single day.'

For households where both parents work and raise children, summer vacation is not a 'break' but rather a 'super busy season,' isn't it?

• Adjusting work schedules to match daycare drop-off and pick-up times

• Supporting homework and independent research projects

• Preparing three full meals a day

• Planning and cleaning up after family trips and outings

All of these things come crashing down at once, and before you know it, summer ends with almost no time left for yourself.

In this article, I, 'Kanebisu,' a father in a dual-income household in my 40s, share the real thoughts I felt on the last day of summer vacation and the perspective I gained while reflecting: 'Adults are the ones who truly need summer vacation care.' I have also included practical tips and service introductions that readers might find relatable and want to try out.

1. Summer vacation was a series of trials for adults

A 'dream time' for children

For children, summer vacation is like 'every day is an independent research project.' Trips, swimming pools, fireworks, and playing with friends. Their hearts are filled with excitement from the continuous stream of extraordinary experiences.

However, it is not the same for adults.

The 'reality of summer vacation' for adults

• Daily menu planning and meal preparation for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

• Managing homework progress (independent research and book reports are especially tough)

• Finding ways to avoid crowds at tourist spots

• Coordinating work and childcare schedules

It is like a 'doubleheader of work, housework, and childcare'. Since you keep this up for nearly 40 days, it is only natural to be exhausted by the end.

2. Looking back on our family's summer vacation

Running at full capacity from morning till night

We are a dual-income household. My wife is in management and busy every day, and I am also kept busy with work as a company employee during the day. When the summer vacations of our third-grade eldest daughter and middle-year preschooler second daughter overlap with that, our house feels like a small event venue.

In the morning, we send them off to after-school care and nursery school. We prepare lunch boxes and water bottles. In the evening, we check their homework, and at night, we prepare for the next day before putting them to bed.

The intensity of our interaction with the children has doubled

It is also a fact that the time we spent with our children was more intense than during the regular school term. The smiles the children showed on our trips, the new knowledge we discovered while researching independent projects together. Behind the hardships were packed irreplaceable moments.

"It was tough, but I'm glad we spent it together after all"—this is the primary feeling remaining on the last day of summer vacation.

3. Tips that helped us get through summer vacation

(1) Share a "to-do list" with the children

There is a limit to managing things like after-school care, lessons, and homework progress just in your head. By creating a "to-do list" on a whiteboard or app and setting up a system to check it with the children, I felt a little more at ease.

(2) Proudly introduce "easy meals"

During summer vacation, just preparing meals every day drains your energy. In our home, we actively introduced frozen foods, meal delivery services, and pre-cut vegetables. We didn't insist on perfect home-cooked meals and prioritized "getting through the summer in good health."

(3) Intentionally secure "break time for parents"

Even just lying down for 15 minutes while the children are watching a DVD or taking a nap makes a difference. If adults get too tired, their smiles decrease, so it makes you feel better to think of taking a break as being "for the sake of the children."

4. Thoughts on the last day of summer vacation: Adults need care too

At this time when children are starting a new school term, it is important for adults to reset their minds and bodies as well.

• Reward yourself for working too hard during summer vacation

• Gradually return your daily rhythm to normal

• Look back on "what was fun during summer vacation" with your children

"Adults, too, can use the last day of summer vacation as a turning point to move on to the next stage." Just having that mindset helps you get your feelings in order.

5. For the future: Let's make use of convenient services

What I keenly realized after spending the summer vacation is that "we should make more use of services that lighten the burden on the household."

• Meal kit delivery: Shorten cooking time while ensuring nutritional balance

• Housekeeping services: Even having someone clean once a week makes you feel surprisingly relieved

• Online learning services: A system that makes it easy for children to study on their own without parents having to oversee homework

"You don't have to take it all on yourself"—I want to make this a lesson for the next long break.

👉 What we actually adopted in our home was meal kit delivery. Since the vegetables arrive pre-cut, I can finish dinner in 10 minutes even after coming home from work. It's also reassuring in terms of nutrition.

[Summary]

To all the adults, you really did a great job on the last day of summer vacation.
The adults who worked at full capacity every day to protect the children's smiles are the ones who need to treat themselves first.

What's important is "acknowledging yourself for your hard work" and "making adjustments to prepare for what's next."
Let's create a daily life where the whole family can spend time with smiles while skillfully incorporating convenient services.

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