Mortgage Moms Stressing Out On Summer

How to make the most of kids' summer vacation without losing your mind

By ASHLEY GRAVANO, Contributor, Mortgage Women Magazine

Sweet summertime … or is it? HAHA!

Ashley Gravano

Most of us love summer. What’s there not to love, longer nights, days at the beach or the lake? BBQs with family and friends. Too many great things to list! Let’s be honest though, as a working parent in the mortgage industry or any industry that ebbs and flows it can be a bit stressful. Day camps, sleep overs, family vacations (oh boy). If you are like many of us parents, you are already trying to figure out how to make the most of the sweet 10-12 weeks of no school without messing up or losing your mind. You may not have the strict schedule of “7-3 p.m.” but you are picking up and managing so much more! If I am being honest and I know I am speaking for many working moms, by mid-summer we cannot wait to get the back-to-school schedules in the mail.

Big questions come into play when you say to yourself, how am I going to get through summer and what are my biggest pain points.

What to cook for dinner? For me, it comes down to ... You mean I have to cook when it’s 103 degrees outside (save me now)? After talking to longtime friend Kate D. and Katie King they shared the same complaints. While Kate tends to not deviate from her normal day-to-day menu, they both agreed that more BBQs are the way to make dinner easier, different, and more fun. Taking advantage of farms and roadside stands nearby, it’s a great way to shop local and maintain a healthier lifestyle.

For some other friends, like Laura Cassady … ”Crock Pots are magical”! With a ‘set it and forget it’ mindset, dinner time can be a lot less stressful as individuals in the household can eat as their schedule or hunger allows.

1INGREDIENTS

4–5 large skinlessboneless, chicken breasts

PEACH CAPRESE GRILLED CHICKEN (1 OF 2) cup balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

8 oz fresh mozzarella, cut into ½ inch slices 4–5 medium peaches, pitted and sliced

Do I keep the kids on a sleep schedule? 10 p.m. sounds reasonable right and no sleeping until noon (I just laughed out loud)? Collectively we all were in agreement that summertime for kids is less about a schedule and more about making memories and having fun, as long as they are rested, and not CRANKY! But, this all starts to come to an end in mid-August when we need to start preparing them for the school year and the realities of catching the bus at 7 a.m.

Do I have to keep them active physically and mentally all summer? Not easy getting kids to do schoolwork during the school year let alone the summer (or is this just my house)? My son would rather play video games most nights as opposed to cornhole in the backyard. Katie likes to focus her daughters attention on playing, a boil on the stovetop. Then, reduce to a simmer for 10-15 minutes. Check the consistency by dipping a spoon in the mixture. If it coats the back of the spoon, the glaze is ready. As the reduction cools, the consistency will become more syrup-like. If you happen to reduce the vinegar too much and it becomes a bit too sticky, simply stir a bit of water into the mixture over low heat. Remove the glaze from heat.

PEACH CAPRESE GRILLED CHICKEN

Prepare and grill the chicken: **Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally. Place the halves, two at a time, between two pieces of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, pound the meat until thin. Repeat until all halves are pounded thin. Drizzle the olive oil over the chicken breasts. Rub the oil over the chicken to evenly coat. Sprinkle the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Place the chicken breasts on the grill. Cook for about 5-8 minutes per side. Plate the dish: Place the grilled chicken on a platter. Top the chicken breasts with an even layer of mozzarella slices. Spread the peach slices over the mozzarella. Drizzle the balsamic reduction over the chicken, mozzarella, and peaches. Sprinkle chopped fresh basil over the entire dish.