When the summer holidays arrive, I always have mixed emotions.
On one hand, I love having the children at home. There’s something special about slower mornings, spontaneous days out and making memories together that simply isn’t possible during the school term.
On the other hand… six weeks is a long time.
As much as I adore my children, being “Mum” from the moment I wake up until they finally go to bed can be exhausting. There are endless snacks to make, drinks to refill, arguments to referee, washing to keep on top of and the familiar chorus of “What are we doing today?” or “I’m bored!”
I know I’m not the only parent who occasionally makes a cup of tea, sits down for what feels like the first time all day, only to hear someone calling “Muuuuum…” before I’ve even taken the first sip.
For years I thought self-care had to be something big. A spa day. A massage. A weekend away. The reality is that, during the summer holidays, those things aren’t always practical.
Instead, I’ve come to realise that self-care often looks much simpler.
Sometimes it’s ten peaceful minutes in the garden.
Sometimes it’s reading a magazine while the children are happily occupied.
Sometimes it’s simply allowing yourself to pause without feeling guilty.
Those little moments can make all the difference.
WIN!
I’m delighted to be giving one lucky Mummy Matters reader a 6-month Readly subscription.
Keep reading to discover why Readly has become one of my favourite summer self-care tools for parents, then scroll down to enter the giveaway.
Why Parents Need Small Moments to Recharge
Summer is wonderful, but it’s also mentally demanding.
We’re often the ones planning activities, checking the weather, organising lunches, packing bags, keeping everyone hydrated, remembering sun cream, finding lost shoes and somehow making sure everyone has a good time.
It’s easy to spend the entire holiday making memories for everyone else while forgetting to look after yourself.
The truth is, taking a few minutes to recharge isn’t selfish.
It helps us return feeling calmer, more patient and ready to enjoy the rest of the day together.
I’ve learned that even ten minutes with a cup of tea and something enjoyable to read can completely reset my mood. It’s amazing how much difference a short break can make when you’ve been answering questions and solving little problems since breakfast.
One Small Change That’s Worked for Our Family
One thing we’ve started using more recently is Readly, and it’s become one of those surprisingly simple things that works for everyone in the family.
Rather than carrying piles of magazines on holiday or waiting until we spot one in a supermarket, we have access to thousands of magazines and comics in one place.
What I particularly like is that everyone can choose something they’re genuinely interested in.
While one of the boys might be reading about football or gaming, Lillie can browse lifestyle titles, and I can finally enjoy a magazine with my coffee instead of endlessly scrolling through social media.
It feels like a healthier way to enjoy a bit of screen time because we’re actually reading for pleasure, learning and relaxing rather than mindlessly flicking from one short video to the next.
Best of all, everyone is happily occupied at the same time—which, if you’re a parent, you’ll know is something of a minor miracle during the school holidays!
Ways We’d Use Readly Throughout the Summer Holidays
One of the things I like most is that Readly isn’t something you’d only use once. It fits into so many of those little pockets of time that naturally happen during the summer holidays.
Long Car Journeys
Whether you’re heading to the coast, visiting grandparents or setting off on a camping adventure, long journeys can test everyone’s patience.
We’ve all heard “Are we nearly there yet?” more times than we’d like to admit!
Having a choice of magazines or comics to browse gives children something different to do, and because there’s such a wide range of titles, everyone can find something that interests them. It also means I can enjoy catching up with one of my favourite magazines once Simon takes over the driving.
Camping and Caravan Holidays
After our recent family camping trips, I’ve become a huge fan of packing lighter wherever possible.
Instead of filling cupboards with books and magazines “just in case”, it’s much easier having everything available in one place. Even better, you can download magazines before you leave, so they’re ready to enjoy even if you’re staying somewhere with a patchy mobile signal.
It’s also perfect for those inevitable rainy afternoons when everyone ends up back inside the campervan or awning wondering what to do next.
Slow Summer Mornings
Not every day has to be packed with activities.
Some of my favourite summer memories are the slower ones—breakfast in the garden, everyone still in their pyjamas, no rush to be anywhere.
While the children are happily reading something they’ve chosen themselves, I can enjoy a quiet coffee and a magazine before the day really gets going. It’s a lovely way to ease into the day instead of feeling like we’re racing from one activity to the next.
A Little Quiet Time After Lunch
When my children were younger, they naturally had naps or quiet time in the afternoon.
As they’ve grown older, that doesn’t really happen anymore, but I still think everyone benefits from a little downtime.
Even half an hour where everyone finds a comfortable spot with something to read can help reset the mood, especially on those hot summer days when everyone’s energy starts to dip.
Waiting Around Doesn’t Have to Feel Like Wasted Time
Summer often involves more waiting than we’d like.
Waiting for food to arrive at a restaurant.
Waiting at the airport.
Waiting for a ferry.
Waiting for a show to begin.
Instead of everyone instinctively reaching for social media or endlessly scrolling, it’s nice having something more meaningful to enjoy. Reading a magazine for fifteen minutes somehow feels much more relaxing than disappearing down an internet rabbit hole.
It’s Not Just for Parents
Although I originally thought about Readly as something I would enjoy, I quickly realised it’s just as useful for the children.
Every child has different interests, and that’s what makes it work so well.
One might be looking at football magazines while another is reading about gaming, animals or science. If your children love crafts, cooking, cars or nature, there’s plenty to keep curious minds entertained.
Giving children the freedom to choose what they want to read also encourages independent reading without it feeling like homework.
They’re reading because they want to—not because they’ve been asked to.
And while they’re happily occupied, parents get something that’s often in very short supply during the summer holidays...
A few peaceful minutes to themselves.
Let’s Stop Feeling Guilty About Taking a Break
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that being a good parent doesn’t mean being available every second of every day.
That’s something I used to struggle with.
I’d feel guilty if I sat down while there were jobs waiting to be done, or if I wanted ten minutes to myself while the children played happily together. It felt as though I should always be doing something productive or entertaining someone.
But the older my children have become, the more I’ve realised that they don’t need me to be constantly “on”.
They need me to be present.
There’s a difference.
Sometimes the best thing we can do is make a cup of tea, take a deep breath and enjoy a few quiet minutes without feeling like we’ve somehow failed because we’re not organising the next activity.
In fact, I think it’s healthy for children to see that parents have interests too.
They see me reading, learning new things, laughing at an article or discovering a recipe I’d like to try, and they’re learning something valuable without even realising it. Reading isn’t just something children do because they’re told to at school. It’s something we can all enjoy, whatever our age.
I also love that everyone can be reading together while enjoying completely different things. One of the boys might be looking through a football magazine, another could be reading about gaming, Lillie might be browsing a lifestyle title, and I’ll be happily catching up with one of my favourite magazines.
We’re together, but we’re all enjoying our own little moment of calm.
Those are often the moments I remember most.
Not because we’ve spent lots of money or planned an elaborate day out, but because everyone felt relaxed, happy and connected.
Sometimes the simplest moments really are the most meaningful.
Win a Six-Month Readly Subscription
To help one lucky Mummy Matters reader enjoy a little more downtime this summer, I’ve teamed up with Readly to give away a six-month subscription. A subscription is £12.99 a month and there is a range of Giftcards available.
Whether you’d use it to enjoy a peaceful coffee while the children explore their favourite comics, download magazines before a family holiday or simply carve out a few moments of self-care during the busy summer break, it’s a prize that the whole family can enjoy.
If you’d like the chance to win, simply enter using the Gleam widget below.
Good luck!
Win a Summer of Reading with Readly