Most stressful summer ever? One in three parents believe so

Will this summer be the most stressful ever? According to a new survey, one in three parents believe so.

In fact, one in three parents don’t think they’ll have a single anxiety-free day this summer! What is bringing on the stress and anxiety?

The largest factor for parents is finding a balance between their work schedule and their children’s summer schedule, with that being almost main concern of the 50 percent that was questioned. 41 percent are worried about having an unpredictable schedule, and 37 percent having enough time for household tasks.

And while that stress is focused on this summer, the stress actually begins much sooner, with the average stress beginning four weeks prior to the last day of the school year.

The study, which was featured by the NY Post, highlights the extra time summer gives kids also can put a strain on parents, who often end up neglecting their own wellbeing, because work, prep and activities only leaves parents 8 percent of time that they can dedicate to themselves.

The site Cynical Parent, which tries to explore parenthood from a fresh perspective, suggests the following for a stress-free summer break:

• Create a summer schedule (but keep it flexible)
• Embrace quiet time
• Prep freezer meals
• Keep a “go bag” ready
• Set up a parent swap with friends