Summer is here. The pool bags are packed, popsicles are melting faster than we can hand them out, and the sound of kids laughing (or arguing) echoes through homes that were once quiet during the school day. For many working mothers, this season is both a dream and a demand. We love our children. We want to make magical memories. But let’s be honest: we’re tired. We’re still working. And now, we’re doing everything else, too.
If you’re a mom who’s answering emails while refilling snack bowls, trying to stay productive on Zoom while your kids watch just one more episode, and wondering how everyone else seems to be doing this with ease, this is for you. You’re not alone, and there’s nothing wrong with the way you’re feeling.
For me, it’s the guilt I feel as I hunker down in my office for a couple of hours as my kids entertain themselves. Or when we sit down for Friday night movie night, and I bring my laptop. It feels like I’m doing so much, but none of them well, or with the full attention that they deserve.
The Many Hats (and the Weight) We Carry
Summer has a way of revealing just how many roles working moms play: caregiver, employee, chef, activities director, conflict negotiator, chauffeur, sunscreen enforcer. While these roles exist year-round, summer often intensifies them. When the school schedule ends, the scaffolding that supports our time and structure disappears. That invisible load? It gets heavier.
This kind of chronic overextension—mentally, emotionally, and physically—can lead to a real and measurable impact on your body. It’s called adrenal fatigue, a term used to describe the burnout of the adrenal glands after prolonged stress. Symptoms such as low energy, disrupted sleep, brain fog, and mood swings are very real and commonly reported among women juggling multiple high-stakes roles.
According to a 2023 American Psychological Association survey, 66% of working mothers report feeling “constantly burned out” during summer months, compared to 43% of working fathers.¹ That gap says something important: the weight isn’t just heavy—it’s unequal.
And it’s complicated. Because even as we’re burning out, we want to be present. We want to love these long days. We want to create core memories. We are grateful for the time with our children, and still, we are exhausted. These feelings are not in conflict. They are the reality of layered emotional truth.
Reframing Summer (Without Doing More)
The solution isn’t always found in doing more, adding another planner, or buying a better time-blocking app. In fact, what most working moms need during summer isn’t more effort—it’s less pressure. Here are a few gentle mindset shifts and small strategies to help you navigate the next few months with more grace and less guilt.
1. Set Emotional Boundaries—Not Just Logistical Ones
You probably already have a shared Google calendar. But have you considered emotional boundaries? For example: “Between 6-8 p.m., I’m not available for emails or requests. That’s memory-making time.” Or: “I will not feel guilty if I need to say no to a fourth playdate this week.”
Saying no isn’t selfish. It creates space to say yes to what matters most—your well-being and your presence with yourself and your family.
2. Let Go of ‘Perfect’
Not every moment needs to be Pinterest-worthy. Let the kids get bored. Let dinner be cold sandwiches. Let the house be messy. Psychologists have found that children remember how they felt more than what they did.² If you’re calm, connected, and even a little silly, those are the memories that last.
3. Build Micro-Restorative Moments
You may not have time for a solo beach weekend, but can you take 10 minutes alone with your coffee before the house wakes up? Step outside at lunch for a few deep breaths? These micro-moments matter. According to Harvard Health, even short pauses throughout the day **can reset your nervous system and lower cortisol levels.**³
4. Name What You Need, Then Ask for It
Whether it’s a partner, a boss, a friend, or a babysitter—people can’t support you if they don’t know you’re overwhelmed. Speak up. Ask for what you need without apology. That’s not weakness; that’s leadership.
5. Shift the Definition of ‘Crushing It’
Maybe “crushing summer” isn’t hosting themed backyard parties every weekend. Maybe it’s keeping your sanity, laughing with your kids once a day, and feeling like yourself when you close your laptop. That counts. That matters.
This summer, may you remember that joy and exhaustion can coexist. You don’t have to choose one or the other. You are doing enough. And in the eyes of your children, you already are enough.
You are not behind. You are not failing. You’re just carrying a lot. Set it down where you can. Ask for help where you need it. And savor the sweet, slow, messy moments—because those are the ones that become stories.
Schedule an introductory call with Emily today to see how her coaching services can support you in getting back on track to feeling like yourself and reclaiming your health.
Sources:
- American Psychological Association. (2023). Stress in America™ Survey: Working Parents in Summer.
- Siegel, D., & Bryson, T. P. (2011). The Whole-Brain Child.
- Harvard Health Publishing. (2020). The health benefits of taking a break.
