There’s this moment every year where it hits me…School is almost out. And instead of feeling relaxed and excited like the kids do, I immediately go into: “Wait… how am I going to manage this?” Because summer sounds fun in theory…until you’re a full-time working mom with two kids at home all day. No routine. No school structure.  Just a lot of “I’m bored” at 9:12am and asking when the next snack is.

If you’re in that same headspace right now—same. So here’s what I’ve learned (mostly the hard way) about getting through summer without it turning into total chaos.

I used to go into summer thinking: we’ll do fun activities every day, I’ll keep them off screens, we’ll have some kind of magical routine. That lasted about… two days when I realized I wouldn't be able to take PTO vacation days for the entire summer. Now I go in knowing some days are great, some days are survival mode, and screen time is absolutely part of the plan And honestly? That mindset shift helps more than anything.

If you're a working mom trying to figure out summer,  this is the part that matters most. I don’t overcomplicate it, but I do:

• map out the weeks early
• figure out which weeks are camps vs. home
• coordinate schedules with work as much as possible
• figure out time where they can visit grandma and grandpa or friends

Some weeks are covered perfectly. Some weeks are… not. But having even a rough plan keeps me from scrambling last minute. This has saved me more times than I can count.

I keep a spot (usually by the door) with:

• sunscreen
• water bottles
• snacks
• hats
• whatever they need for the day

So when we’re running out the door (which is always), I’m not searching for everything. It sounds small, but it makes mornings way less stressful. 

Between work and everything else, I am not making complicated meals all summer. We’re talking simple lunches, lots of fruit, easy dinners (think air fryer or grill for quick easy proteins!) And I try to keep things they can grab themselves so I’m not being asked for food every 20 minutes (even though I still am) and in our house I keep the special treats - cookies and the like so high up in the pantry no one can get them without an adult.

• No structure = chaos.
• Too much structure = everyone’s miserable.

What’s worked for us is a loose flow:

• morning: something active or outside
• mid-day: quiet time / screens / rest
• afternoon: free play or activity

Nothing strict—just enough so the whole day doesn’t feel like a free-for-all. We all know that kids thrive in structure, so this seems to work the best for us.

This might be the biggest one. Not every day needs to be: a memory, a trip, a full-on activity. Sometimes the win is that everyone got through the day, no one melted down (too much), and you got your work done. That counts.

Summer is a lot. It’s a lot of juggling, planning, adjusting, and just figuring it out as you go. But it is also kids being home more, slower mornings (sometimes) where you aren't rushing to get the kids to the bus stop on time, random fun moments you didn’t plan.

So I try to stay organized where I can and let the rest just be what it is. If you're heading into summer feeling a little overwhelmed…

you’re not behind.
you’re not doing it wrong.
you’re just a mom trying to make it all work—and honestly, that’s enough.

What are some of your 'must haves' for summer break?