When summer rolls around, there’s this idea that it’s supposed to be magical.
Unstructured time. Barefoot joy. Sparkly sprinklers and sticky smiles.
For many moms, summer looks less like sunsets and slow days, and more like refereeing tantrums in a house that never stays clean.
The routines that keep us sane vanish. The kids are always home. The fridge is always empty. And somehow, there’s this pressure to “make memories” every single day.

As a trauma-informed therapist and mom, I’ve sat in both the overwhelm and the awe of motherhood. And every summer, I hear the same unspoken things from moms who feel like they’re supposed to be loving this, but instead feel guilty, tired, overstimulated—and a little lost.
Let’s name the five struggles we don’t always talk about—and the grounded, real ways to move through them.

1. The “I’m Bored” Loop That Starts Before 9 AM

When school ends, structure disappears—and with it, the sense of rhythm kids count on. Their brains are still wired for pattern and predictability, but their days have turned into a free-for-all.

Try This:
Build a soft structure. Morning check-ins, a lunch-time book, evening walk—small anchors create safety. You’re not being rigid—you’re offering their nervous system a home base.

2. The Pressure to “Make Every Day Magical”

You scroll through curated snapshots of other families doing backyard picnics and day trips while you’re hiding in the laundry room eating a granola bar. You feel like you’re falling short.

Try This:
Replace perfection with presence. A 10-minute game of Uno. Lying on the floor listening to music. These micro-moments become the memories. Trust that you’re already giving them what matters most—you.

3. Emotional Rollercoasters (Theirs… and Yours)

Big emotions show up more often when routines vanish and stimulation increases. The meltdowns feel louder. The whining feels endless. And honestly? You’re right there with them.

Try This:
Teach emotional awareness through the body. I call it “flutter feelings”—those tight tummies, quick breathing, clenched jaws. Helping kids notice what fear or frustration feels like gives them tools to pause, rather than explode. (It works for grown-ups too.)

4. Financial Overload and “Mom Guilt Spending”

You want them to have the best summer ever, so you say yes to camps, outings, and random Target runs—but the budget’s screaming, and so is your peace.

Try This:
Reframe what “the best summer” really means. Let your kids in on the plan. “We’re doing one big thing this week and the rest will be cozy home days.” Letting them help name what matters most teaches boundaries and gratitude.

5. No Time to Breathe (or Be Alone)

Summer breaks mean fewer moments to yourself. The mental load triples. The snacks run out faster. You start craving silence like a survival need.

Try This:
Schedule solo minutes like they’re sacred. A 10-minute breath work app in the car before pickup. A morning coffee ritual on the porch before they wake. It’s not selfish. It’s self-regulation. And your family gets a better version of you when you’re emotionally full.

Final Thought:

You don’t need to be the camp counselor, emotional coach, activities director, and chef all at once.

You just need to be human—with a soft heart, strong boundaries, and a willingness to sit beside your child in the mess.

Hello Flutters, the book I wrote after a moment with my son, it’s not about fixing fear, it’s about noticing it. And that’s the medicine kids and moms need this summer.

Not control. Not constant happiness.

Connection.

You’ve got this, Mama.

Even if you’ve reheated your coffee three times today and no one knows what day of the week it is.

That flutter you feel in your chest?

That’s not failure.

That’s love.