Somewhere between field day, teacher appreciation week, last-minute permission slips, and the sudden realization that your kids will be home all day every day soon, May shows up like a chaotic sprint to the finish line.

And honestly? It feels a little unhinged every year.

In my house right now, I’ve got one kid finishing up their freshman year (how did that even happen?), one about to head into their final year of elementary school in the fall, and my baby—who doesn’t feel like a baby anymore—heading off to pre-K.

So basically… I’m emotionally fine. (I’m not emotionally fine.)

This season hits different.

So I wanted to share what I call my real-life, no-fluff, just-try-to-survive-it End-of-School-Year Survival Guide. Nothing fancy. Nothing perfect. Just what actually helps me get through this stretch without completely losing my mind.

1. Accept That May is Not a “Normal” Month

If you’re still trying to operate like May is business-as-usual… I lovingly need to stop you right there.

It’s not.

It’s:

• Spirit week chaos
• Forgotten library books showing up in random backpacks
• Last-minute school projects that suddenly matter a lot
• Teacher gifts you swear you planned ahead for (but didn’t)
• And kids who are somehow more tired and more hyper at the same time

Lower the bar. Lower it again. Then maybe lower it one more time just for good measure.

Survival mode is the goal here.

2. Use the “One Container Rule” for School Stuff

This has saved me more times than I can count.

Each kid gets:

• One bin
• One folder
• Or one basket

All papers, artwork, projects, random mystery items from their desk go in there.

Not sorted.
Not organized.
Just contained.

We deal with it in June. Or July. Or… honestly, whenever I find the emotional strength.

3. Stop Overcommitting (Even When You Feel Guilty)

There’s something about end-of-year school emails that makes you feel like you need to:

• Volunteer for everything
• Attend everything
• Donate everything
• Bake something Pinterest-worthy at 10 p.m.

No.

Pick what actually matters to you and your capacity. Let the rest go.

Your kids don’t need a burned-out mom showing up everywhere. They need a present one who isn’t running on fumes and iced coffee alone.

4. Create a “Soft Landing” After School Ends

The transition from school structure → summer freedom is rough if you don’t plan for it a little.

I like to keep the first week of summer super gentle:

• Slow mornings
• Easy lunches (nothing complicated, please)
• No big outings every day
• Lots of outside time when possible
• And a little boredom allowed

Boredom is not the enemy. It’s actually where the magic (and creativity) starts.

5. Do a Quick Reset Before Summer Starts

Not a full home overhaul. We are not doing that.

Just a simple reset:

• Toss broken crayons and dried markers
• Wash backpacks
• Clear out lunch boxes
• Restock sunscreen
• Find swimsuits that still fit (this one is always humbling)
• Set up a simple snack zone kids can access

Future-you will be very grateful.

6. Make a Loose Summer Plan (Not a Strict Schedule)

There is a difference.

I don’t do rigid summer schedules anymore. I do anchors:

• Morning slow start
• Outside time daily
• One outing or activity a few times a week
• Quiet time (for everyone, including me)
• Easy rhythm, not rigid structure

It keeps the days from feeling chaotic without turning summer into a job.

7. Let Yourself Feel All the Things

This part is important.

Because this time of year is emotional.

Watching my freshman finish his school year hits me in a way I didn’t expect. It feels fast and loud and like I blinked somewhere along the way.

And then there’s my almost-fifth grader, standing right on that edge of “big kid” independence.

And my little one heading into pre-K—excited and brave and still so tiny in all the ways that matter most.

It’s a strange mix of pride and nostalgia and a tiny bit of panic that time is moving faster than I can keep up with.

You don’t have to skip over that feeling to be “functional.”

You can hold both.

You’re Doing Better Than You Think

If your house feels messy, your calendar feels packed, and your brain feels like it has 47 tabs open…

You’re in good company.

This season is full. Loud. Emotional. Beautiful in weird little ways.

And you don’t have to do it perfectly to make it meaningful.

Just keep showing up for your kids in the ways that matter most:

• A hug at the end of the day
• A snack when they’re “starving”
• Listening when they talk too much at bedtime
• And being there, even when you’re tired

That’s the real survival guide.

Everything else is just extras.

Hang in there!