There seems to be one topic of conversation everywhere at the moment.
“It’s so hot!”
As much as I love the sunshine, I have to admit this heatwave has been a little relentless. Every morning starts the same way in our house. Windows open before the sun gets too high, curtains closed once it starts warming up, fans switched on and water bottles filled ready for the day ahead.
Meanwhile, Eloise seems mostly unbothered.
Like most children, she’d happily spend the whole day outside if she could. The challenge is that children don’t always realise when they’re getting too hot or dehydrated. They carry on playing until suddenly they’re flushed, tired and in desperate need of a drink.
It’s reminded me that making the most of summer isn’t about filling every day with plans. Sometimes it’s about slowing down, staying safe and enjoying the little moments.
Slower Mornings And Cooler Starts
One thing we’ve changed this week is the way we start our mornings.
Instead of heavier breakfasts, we’ve been choosing lighter, refreshing foods. One of Eloise’s favourites has been hwachae, a Korean fruit punch made with fresh fruit and a chilled drink. It’s colourful, hydrating and a lovely way to encourage children to eat more fruit during the hotter weather. I’ll share our simple recipe at the end of this post because it’s become a real favourite in our house.
We’ve also been making a conscious effort to stop for regular drinks, reapply sun cream and remind ourselves that it’s perfectly okay to slow the pace a little.
Keeping Cool During The Day
When the hottest part of the day arrives, we’ve been staying indoors as much as possible.
The fans are on, the curtains are closed and the house becomes our little escape from the heat. We might watch one of our favourite 80s television programmes, read together, play a board game or simply enjoy having nowhere to be.
I think social media sometimes makes us feel guilty for slowing down, especially during the holidays. The truth is, children don’t need us to entertain them every minute. Sometimes they simply need us.
Evenings Are Our Favourite Time
Once the garden starts to cool down, we head back outside.
Every evening we water the plants together. It usually begins with good intentions, checking which flowers need watering and seeing how everything is growing. Before long, Eloise has managed to water herself just as much as the garden.
She laughs, cools down before bed and heads inside for a shower as part of our evening routine.
Sometimes the best summer memories aren’t the expensive days out.
Sometimes they’re simply made with a hosepipe and a very enthusiastic eight-year-old.
Listening To Our Bodies
One unexpected benefit of this heatwave has been talking about listening to our bodies.
Feeling thirsty isn’t something to ignore. Feeling tired doesn’t mean you’ve failed to make the most of the day. Needing to sit in the shade isn’t boring.
If Eloise says she’s thirsty, we stop for a drink. If she’s getting too warm, we find some shade. If she’s had enough, we head home.
They’re simple conversations, but they’re helping her understand that looking after herself is important, and that’s a lesson that reaches far beyond a few hot summer days.
Summer Doesn’t Have To Be Expensive
When I think back to my own childhood, I don’t remember expensive days out.
I remember melting ice creams, sprinklers in the garden, picnics at the beach and staying outside until the evenings became cooler.
I have a feeling Eloise will remember the same sort of things. The homemade hwachae. The evenings watering the plants. The laughter when someone accidentally gets soaked.
Sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to create magical childhoods that we forget how magical the ordinary moments already are.
I hope you’re all managing to stay cool, drink plenty of water and enjoy this beautiful weather while it lasts. Just don’t forget the sun cream. ☀️💛
Our Simple Hwachae Recipe
If you’ve never tried hwachae, it’s a traditional Korean fruit punch that’s wonderfully refreshing during hot weather. There are lots of different versions, but this is the simple one we’ve been enjoying at home.
Ingredients
- 2 cups watermelon, cut into small cubes
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced
- 1 cup green grapes (whole or quartered for younger children)
- 1 cup blueberries
- Ice cubes
- Sparkling water or coconut water (We use milk sometimes)
- Fresh mint (optional)
Method
- Prepare all of the fruit and place it into a large serving bowl.
- Add plenty of ice cubes.
- Pour over your chilled drink of choice until the fruit is just covered.
- Add a few mint leaves if you’d like an extra fresh flavour.
- Serve immediately.
Eloise’s Tip: We sometimes freeze a handful of grapes instead of using ice cubes. They keep everything lovely and cold without watering the drink down.
Our Heatwave Survival Kit
This week, these have become our little summer essentials.
- 💧 Refillable water bottles
- 🍉 Fresh fruit in the fridge
- 🥣 Homemade hwachae for breakfast
- 🍦 Ice lollies ready in the freezer
- 🧴 Sun cream by the front door
- 👒 Sun hats ready to grab
- 🌀 Fans running during the hottest part of the day
- 🪟 Windows open first thing in the morning, curtains closed once the sun reaches the windows
- 📺 A few favourite 80s television programmes for quieter afternoons indoors
- 🌱 Watering the plants together in the evening
- 🚿 Cool showers before bedtime
- 💛 A reminder that it’s perfectly okay to slow down.
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