Summer Survival for Working Moms: Let’s Talk About Stress, Sanity & Screen-Free Creativity
By Life Balance Counseling, Coaching & Wellness – Rochester, NH
It’s officially summer—cue the sunscreen, endless snack requests, and the nostalgic echoes of “I’m boooored” coming from your living room while you try to finish a Zoom meeting with your mic on mute and your sanity on low battery.
If you’re a mom trying to work, keep the house semi-intact, and parent kids who are home for the summer, just know this: you’re not alone. This season can be equal parts magical and maddening. Many of us are juggling deadlines and dishes while low-key worrying about whether our kids are doing “enough”—enough camps, enough learning, enough socializing, enough fun. (Because heaven forbid they “miss out.”)
Let’s take a breath. Let’s talk truth. And let’s share some tools to help you feel a little more grounded this summer.
The Real Struggles: You’re Not Doing It Wrong
Let’s acknowledge it: balancing work and parenting during summer break feels like working two full-time jobs while hosting a never-ending sleepover with tiny emotional roommates. Add in the pressure of perfectly curated Pinterest summers or Instagram-worthy adventures, and it’s no wonder our anxiety creeps in.
We’re flooded with messages that scream:
“Make memories!”
“Avoid screen time!”
“Enroll in enriching camps!”
“Keep your house clean!”
“Also, work, exercise, eat well, meditate, and have a thriving relationship.”
It’s. Just. Too. Much.
A Reframe: Moments > Master Plans
Here’s the thing—we don’t need to give our kids a perfect summer. What we need are moments—moments of connection, moments of laughter, moments of stillness. Even boredom. (Yes, boredom is not the enemy!)
Boredom is the birthplace of creativity. It’s what gave us forts made of blankets, water balloon battles, and afternoons spent searching for frogs. The 80s and 90s weren’t filled with curated crafts and weeklong themed itineraries. They were full of sticky popsicles, scraped knees, and running through sprinklers. Simpler times = more freedom to just be.
Let’s bring a little of that back.
5 Summer Sanity Tips for Moms (From a Counselor Who Gets It)
Ditch the Comparison Game (Seriously).
If the mom down the street has her kids in seven different enrichment programs and you just survived a week of PB&J lunches and SpongeBob reruns—congratulations, you’re still doing great. Comparison is the thief of joy and the fuel of anxiety.
Breathe Before You Scroll.
Social media amplifies the fear of missing out (for you and your kids). Try a “mindful scroll” rule: Before you open Instagram, take one deep breath and ask yourself: “Am I looking for inspiration or self-punishment?” Then proceed accordingly.
Prioritize Micro-Moments of Self-Care.
You don’t need an hour-long bubble bath to reset. Sometimes, five minutes of sunshine, a protein-packed snack, or a lavender essential oil roll-on can make all the difference. Tiny moments add up.
Feed Your Mood with Food.
From a nutrition and mental health perspective, what you eat really does impact your stress. Choose snacks with protein + healthy fats (almonds, hummus, hard-boiled eggs) to stabilize your blood sugar and improve your emotional bandwidth. Limit high-sugar snacks—they can make your stress and irritability worse.
Talk to Someone Who Gets It.
There’s no gold medal for “doing it all alone.” Therapy gives you a nonjudgmental space to sort through overwhelm, reduce anxiety, and actually enjoy the moments you’re working so hard to create. It’s not indulgent. It’s maintenance for your mind.
Here’s the Truth
Your kids don’t need a picture-perfect summer—they need a present, emotionally safe mom. And you don’t need to be perfect either. Just being there, showing up as your flawed, tired, funny, loving self is more than enough.
So let them get bored. Let them get messy. Let the house be loud. And let yourself be human.
This summer, let’s lower the bar, raise the joy, and remember: you’re doing an amazing job—even if no one packed a Pinterest bento box today.
Need a little extra support this summer?
At Life Balance Counseling, Coaching & Wellness in Rochester, NH, we specialize in helping moms reclaim their peace, reconnect with themselves, and manage the real-life pressures of parenting, working, and simply being human. Click here to schedule a session.
We’re here when you need someone to talk to—without judgment, only support. Because your mental health matters, too.
