For many families, the end of the school year brings a huge sigh of relief. Exams are over, prom dresses have been danced in, shirts have been signed with messages from friends, and for a little while the pressure begins to melt away.
There are no packed lunches to make, no frantic search for PE kits and, for a few precious weeks, no school run.
I think that's something worth celebrating.
Summer gives children something they need just as much as education: time.
Time to climb trees, stay in their pyjamas a little longer, kick a football around the park, build dens, visit grandparents, laugh with friends and simply be children.
Their minds have worked incredibly hard this year, and just like adults, they need the chance to switch off and recharge.
Of course, not everyone is ending the school year feeling carefree.
Some children are already worrying about starting reception or moving up to high school. Others are waiting for exam results, wondering what the future holds.
For some families, this summer marks an even bigger milestone as sons and daughters prepare to leave home for university or begin a completely new chapter.
And while we spend so much time talking about how children feel, I think we sometimes forget the parents.
Watching your child become more independent is one of life's greatest privileges, but it can also pull at your heart.
The little hand that once reached for yours at the school gates suddenly doesn't need holding anymore. That's something many parents quietly grieve while smiling with pride.
If any of this feels familiar, I'd like to leave you with a simple technique I often use myself when life feels overwhelming.
When your mind starts racing ahead to September or imagining every possible outcome, pause for just one minute and ask yourself three questions.
What can I see?
What can I hear?
What am I grateful for right now?
This simple exercise brings your attention back to the present instead of the "what ifs". Our minds are brilliant at predicting problems, but they often forget to notice what's going well today.
Then ask yourself one final question:
What's one thing I can enjoy today?
Maybe it's an ice cream on a sunny afternoon, a picnic in the park, a board game around the kitchen table or simply watching your children laugh without the pressure of homework hanging over them.
These six weeks will pass far quicker than any of us would like. Before long the uniforms will be back on, alarm clocks will be ringing and another school year will begin.
So if you can, don't wish the summer away by worrying about September.
Take the photographs.
Make the memories.
Enjoy the slower mornings.
And remember that every ending is also the start of something new. Sometimes the best thing we can do for our own mental well-being is stop trying to rush into the next chapter and simply enjoy the page we're on.
Kirsty Redford is a qualified Master NLP Practitioner, Life Coach, Mindfulness Practitioner and Certified Firewalking Instructor.
As founder of Firewalk Events, she helps people build confidence and resilience, inspiring them to find their inner power and reignite their spark.
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