We all have this fantasy about summer vacation. Cue relaxing music and the voiceover that says: “Ah, summer. That magical season we all look forward to, right? Longer days, relaxed schedules, vacations, family time—what’s not to love?”
And just like that, we snap out of it. We hear the sound of a broken record. We know that dreamy sequence is not how life goes at our house.
If you’re raising an Orchid Kid, summer is less magic and more migraine-inducing. There’s a special kind of guilt that shows up in the summer months. Do you find yourself mulling these thoughts over in your head?
- “We should be able to go on a family vacation.”
- “We should be spending more time together.”
- “We should be outside more.”
- “We should just let the kids relax.”
- “We should pack in more enrichment.”
And that word “should” is usually the first clue that we’re in trouble. Here’s the thing: Most of those “shoulds” are based on a fantasy version of summer that simply doesn’t fit the reality of parenting an Orchid Kid. And that’s OK.
So let’s take a collective breath and talk about what actually works.
Reframe how you see summer vacations
Sometimes we may attach to unrealistic expectations.
How about the idea that everyone in the family should enjoy doing the same things at the same time? That one breaks down fast when one kid thrives on spontaneity and another needs a laminated schedule to feel safe.
Or how about insisting that a vacation should be a chance to relax? That’s not going to happen when your Orchid is having daily meltdowns about a different bed, new foods, and a weird-smelling rental bathroom.
So, what if instead of aiming for the fantasy, we got curious about what our version of summer could look like?
What summer vacation could be–for real!
Here’s a challenge. Go from “should” to “could” with a curious mindset.
The goal is not to recreate summer camp at home or keep the house running like a military base. It’s to create a rhythm that helps everyone feel more grounded and less like they’re hurtling through unstructured chaos.
Here’s two things you can try:
1. Create a daily rhythm—not a strict schedule.
Think: wake-up → breakfast → morning activity → lunch → rest time → play → dinner.
A simple flow gives your Orchid Kid predictability, which means fewer meltdowns and more peace. Post it with pictures. Refer to it often. Let it be the metronome that holds your day together.
2. Build in “breathe” days.
These are days with zero plans. No outings, no playdates, no errands. Just space. Unstructured time can actually be a buffer against overstimulation. For an Orchid Kid, having time to decompress before they’re fried is game-changing.
Summer magic is possible–with a little tweaking
When we let go of how we thought summer should go and start working with the kids we actually have, everything gets easier.
Family vacations might become parent-child “getaways” with one kid at a time. Backyard “adventures” might replace theme parks. Or you might decide that staying local and building a routine right at home is the best gift you could give your child—and yourself.
You are not failing because your summer doesn’t look like someone else’s Instagram reel. You are doing the brave, hard, loving work of parenting the complicated child you’ve been gifted. That work requires flexibility, compassion, and a radical willingness to let go of what doesn’t serve your family—especially in summer.
If you’re ready to ditch the “shoulds” and build a summer routine that actually works for your family, contact us to schedule a 1:1 coaching session with one of us. We’ll create a rhythm that reduces drama and increases joy–yes, even in July and August!
Photo by Arturo Rey on Unsplash