When the Wheels Start to Come Off: Five Summer Shifts You Haven’t Thought Of (But Might Just Save You)

You know the moment.

The baby’s been up since 5:45. Someone’s already crying over a popsicle. The dishwasher was run but never unloaded. There are towels on the floor, the sunscreen is missing, and your group text just reminded you that you volunteered to host the neighborhood kids tomorrow.

Suddenly you’re holding everyone’s plans, snacks, swim goggles, emotions, and expectations in your hands and your brain just quietly whispers: this is too much.

You're not alone.

Summer can feel like a highlight reel for kids and a slow-motion meltdown for parents; especially the one running point on it all. The one making sure everyone has water bottles, clean clothes, and enough structure to not fall apart when bedtime is 30 minutes late.

If you're the default parent, you’re likely also the keeper of the schedule, the snack drawer, the sunscreen inventory, and the general emotional weather of your household.

So here’s a little reminder:

You don’t have to do it all. You just need a plan that does more of the work for you.
There are small, surprising shifts that can take some of the pressure off.

A consistent pause can do more for your peace

than a perfect routine.

Five Summer Shifts You Haven’t Thought Of (But Might Just Save You):

1. Create a “Boredom Basket” - but for you.
   You’ve seen the ones for kids. Try making one for yourself: a tote with a magazine, sunscreen, headphones, a protein bar, and your favorite lip balm. Throw it in the car. You’re allowed to enjoy the sidelines, too.

2. Set a daily “Afternoon Reset” time.
   Pick a time (say, 2:30 PM?) and make it a daily cue for a quick household reset. You refill your water, do a 5-minute tidy, and take a breath. Hand your kids a tiny task, too: wipe the counters, sort the mail, feed the pet. The key? Keep it consistent. It breaks up the day, helps transition into the evening, and teaches everyone how to pause and reset (together).

3. Have a “default dinner” for every day of the week.
   Monday? Chicken Caesar wraps. Friday? Nacho night. No decisions = less burnout. It’s not boring. It’s beautiful.

4. Keep a shared Google Calendar…but teach your kids how to read it.
   Even young ones can learn. Post a printout on the fridge with picture icons. “Swim lessons” = goggles. “Library day” = book. It cuts down on constant questions and gives them a sense of control.

5. Choose one day to not parent “well.”

   Hear me out. No themed snacks. No screens guilt. Just you, doing the bare minimum. Your kids won’t remember it. But your nervous system will.

You don’t need to overhaul your summer.
You just need to stop doing it all from scratch.

You’re not behind. You’re just unsupported.

Let’s change that.

One Last Thought:
It’s okay if summer feels hard. That doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong - it means you’re doing more than anyone sees.

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I offer 1:1 Executive Family Management services for busy families who need structure that sticks.
From digital organization to day-to-day logistics, I’ll help you set up systems that work, so you can focus on what matters.