How can I stop being such a miserable git in summer?

[Doowop1919]

Evening everyone,
I have a 2.5 year old DS and awaiting DS2 any day now. We won't be having any more and I've been thinking a lot the last few weeks about how to make their childhood good / memorable (I was an only child, my dad wasn't around until I was 13 and my mum was incredibly absent - not a bad person just not a maternal person at all so I was left mainly with my grans and 2 aunties a lot).

The thing I know I need to change is my mood in summer. I'm a Scot living in an EU country that gets temperatures of 27-35 degrees a lot in the summer and I'm one of those misery guts who doesn't like bugs, sweat and heat, and would be happier inside with the blinds closed. I want to make an effort to change this and get out and about in the summers with the boys - parks, picnics, etc. I want to enjoy the sunny days and the time with my kids. I have great memories as a kid of summer and playing out all day, but I missed doing things with my parents. I don't want my kids to miss out on summer days out. The rest of the year, I love being out and about so that's not an issue, even in snow!

Anyone have any tips how to stop being so miserable in summer? For not letting mosquitos and wasps irritate me? For being more comfortable in the heat?

Thanks everyone!

Well you need to stay out of the midday sun to prevent sunburn.

So think about getting out early mornings when it's cooler, having indoor chill time midday, lunch, sleep, film and then go out again in the evening.

The sun and UV all day in the summer is probably not as strong and in European countries there are reasons for siestas.

And try not to worry about giving your children the perfect childhood there is no such thing.

Appropriately dressed and do things early in the day/late afternoon evening.

I love the summer heat but I can understand why people don’t. Can you plan things for the coolest parts of the day? Maybe a walk/activity in the morning, home at lunchtime to avoid the mid day sun then a late afternoon trip to the park. Research what’s going on, indoor play, shady woods to walk through etc. in my experience young children get ratty in the heat as well so if you have days indoors don’t beat yourself up!

I'm not good in the sun. Some hard learned tips-

Use a wet scarf- either around your neck, over your shoulders like a shawl, or over your head. Re wet from a water bottle. It's game changing.

Plan lovely heat of the day activities- whether that's a trip to an air con shopping centre for an ice cream, a nap/tv hour, or a paddling pool in the shade.

Do your adventuring early and late.

Look at what locals do- they may have the know how!

Invest in things that work- sunscreen that's convenient, chafing shorts/chafing cream, long floaty dresses... whatever it takes.

Copy the locals. When we were in Spain in June most people with small children were out in the morning and then again after 4pm. Only the tourist were out in full mid-day sun.

I am very similar. I hate being too hot, wearing stupid floaty clothes that have no pockets and expose bits of me I hate. Having to put sun cream on every bit of exposed skin so you feel constantly greasy. Horribly phobic about wasps, even though I know rationally they are not that scary.

I have got a lot better over the years though. The biggest thing that has changed is I took up gardening and now I look forward to all the plants growing and flowering and fruiting in the sunlight.

Having a routine for horrible jobs like suncreaming helps a lot. I just get up and do it - no agonizing about whether I can get away without it just do it.

With wasps I worked out my biggest fear was them getting on my food, and I hate the feeling of having no escape. So I minimize eating outside, and I have areas of the house which are shut up against wasps - I can shut myself in if I feel like I'm not coping. We go camping and keep the insect nets strictly done up at all times so the tent is a safe refuge.

When the heat is relentless I shelter under a big golf umbrella so I don't have to walk about in beating sun. I have a small Aircon unit for one room so I know there's respite somewhere if I need it. (I always feel like it's only really winter outside but summer is everywhere)

Be present for your children in an emotional sense.

The rest is nice but not important.

In general my most successful summers in the heat are when I am at an optimal weight for me.

Any additional weight and I get rolls on my stomach, so thighs not touching and no excess weight on stomach and back.

For me at 5ft 6 this means being 9st 10 or less. Anything over and I feel grimy in heat.

Also I wear knee length cotton dresses, I can't bear having material around my legs.

I exercise a lot each morning which helps me I think too.

I have no idea what weight you are OP so I'm not having any kind of dig at you.

I live in a place that gets hot, humid summers, mosquitos, etc.

I did nice, easy, boring stuff with the DCs. We used sunscreen and bug spray, but if we went to the park we went early before the equipment got hot enough to burn the skin. We went to the local public pool for probably two hour stretches, and got there early enough to nab a shade umbrella. For a special outing, we went to a different park.

I was always knackered when I got home, so learned to have plans for lunch, or something already prepped and ready to microwave and serve.

Bring water for everyone, especially yourself, and a snack - fruit is always good, and you can pack cheese in an insulated bag with an ice pack insert.

We spent afternoons lazing around indoors. The DCs had toys, paints, crayons, etc and the tv..

Don't put pressure on yourself to entertain children all day every day.

I grew up in a very hot country. We went to the beach / pool early or late. Sunscreen, hats, water, chill time indoors in the middle of the day.

Do you have a pool locally? I grew up in a hot country and we spent most weekends as a family at the pool, which we loved. Both us and our parents got to know other people there as well so it was quite a social thing as well as somewhere to burn energy/cool down.

I am with you - I am not a fan of the summer either. However, it terms of making it happy for your family, I think it is about creating traditions that they will look back on and always associate with summer. Take inspiration from the locals but it could be things like making your own ice lollies which will keep you cool. Also, I read (and it works) that the places to focus on heat wise (hot or cold) are your heat and your feet. When we had that really hot heatwave in the UK, I soaked flannels in freezing water and put them on my feet and head/neck. It really helps to cool you down. Also distraction is a big one - if you have an activity you can do together (like a board game or something involving water that doesn't involve getting tired, hot or sweaty), it takes your mind off the heat.

Just wanted to come back to this thread to thank everyone for taking the time to reply with advice! DS2 arrived not long after I posted this.
I've taken quite a bit on board and plan to head out early mornings and evenings, try the wet scarf, reduce eating outside and I need to focus on losing weight regardless of summer!