Asking for a friend (kidding, it’s me): Is anyone else feeling a bit of summertime anxiety? Over the past few weeks, my social media feed has been filled with enough over-the-top parenting content to make any mom apprehensive.
First I was inundated with wildly ornate (and expensive!) Teacher Appreciation Week ideas (to be clear, my kids’ teachers definitely deserve displays of gratitude, but I am working with a finite budget here). Then came videos of SUVs elaborately decorated for Last Day of School pick-up parades (which apparently exist). In this era of parenting, even simple things – a thank-you or school pick-up – come with pressure and expectation.
And yet, at the same time, a lot of folks online are extolling the virtue of a “‘90s summer,” a throwback to the carefree and screen-free days of my Millennial childhood. While I appreciate the concept in theory, it’s mid-June I’m already feeling overwhelmed – by the pressure to do the most AND the least, plus the actual day-to-day experience of taking care of three boys under 3.
Thankfully Life Kit read the room. Host Marielle Segarra talked to happiness expert (!) Gretchen Rubin about reclaiming the magic of summer – from choosing a theme, to crafting a bucket list, to committing to a challenge. Unlike the performative social media snapshots that make me feel so uneasy, Rubin’s strategies are both actionable and light.
I felt inspired enough to pour myself a glass of rosé (the unofficial drink of the season, if you ask me) and come up with a few summertime non-negotiables. After mapping out our family vacations and identifying a few special dates ahead, including my twins’ first trip to the movie theater!, looking at the calendar felt less daunting – full of possibility rather than pressure.
☀️Making summer magic,
Lyndsey
The week’s best episodes
…to share with your mom group chat
💆 When going off the grid isn’t an option
Why does a day spent on screens make us feel so bad? It’s a question that TED Radio Hour host Manoush Zomorodi has been obsessing over for years. On this episode, Manoush breaks it down to the cellular level, consulting with a mitochondrial psychobiologist and science journalist on how to feel alive in a downright exhausting world.
🎶When you’re tired of the Top Family Hits playlist
A few months ago, the curators over at NPR Music compiled a playlist of songs for starting over and resetting; last week, they asked listeners to share their own picks. From Bill Withers to Peter Gabriel to John Denver, it’s an expansive selection of songs that just might be the palate cleanser you need. (My nomination: “Like I Used To,” the 2021 collab from Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen.)
✨When you can’t wait for the Fourth of July for a light show
You can practically hear the delight in Short Wave host Regina Barber and science correspondent Pien Huang’s voices as they venture out in a cargo bike in search of these enchanting insects. But between habitat destruction and light pollution, seeing these creatures isn’t always a guarantee. Listen in for some small ways you can help the humble firefly.
➕ A special event for NPR+ subscribers…
📖 Our pals at Planet Money put out their very first book earlier this year. Now they’re hosting a live virtual book event for NPR+ subscribers featuring host Jeff Guo, author Alex Mayyasi and other special guests on Thursday, June 25! Listen to the bonus episode for event and registration details, plus an exclusive preview of this year’s Planet Money Summer School theme.
Get access to this episode (and sponsor-free listening) by signing up for NPR+.
One to Watch
👠Have you checked out NPR’s Newsmakers yet? It’s our new video podcast that brings you conversations with the biggest names from today’s headlines. This week we’ve got a conversation with Chloe Malle, the new head of editorial content for American Vogue (aka, Anna Wintour’s successor).
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