Summer Break Is Not a Break for Parents — Let’s Talk About That

Hi! If you’re reading this while hiding in your bathroom with a half-melted popsicle, just know: you are not alone.

Let’s clear something up right now—summer break is not a break for parents. It is a full-time emotional, logistical, and snack-based job with no PTO, and your coworkers do not respect boundaries.

As therapists (and parents ourselves), we hear it every year:

“I thought I was excited for summer, but now everyone’s screaming, the living room smells like sunscreen and mystery feet, and I think I’ve fed my kids 87 meals today.”

Yup. That sounds about right.

☀️ The Myth of “The Summer Break Glow”

There’s this idea that summer will be this golden time of connection, joy, and Pinterest-worthy adventures. And sure, some moments are like that. But a lot of summer parenting looks more like:

• “Can I watch this?” while a child cannonballs into a pool near your open laptop

• Negotiating bedtime with someone who just ate a popsicle at 9 PM

• Saying “no” to snacks so many times you start to question reality

  
  

It's a season filled with love, yes—but also noise, mess, and zero routine. And that can be hard on your nervous system. Especially when everyone else seems to be living their best lake-life on Instagram.

Why It Feels Like Too Much (Because It Kinda Is)

Summer strips away structure—and while kids might thrive in chaos (or think they do at least), most adults do not. Our routines are often the things that keep us grounded, and when they vanish, so does our ability to remember basic things… like what day it is.

Here’s what else is happening:

• You’re still working (either managing the house or job) while also supervising tiny and/or big humans full-time

• There's a pressure to make memories instead of just making it to bedtime

• No school = no built-in childcare, alone time, or peace and quiet

You’re not “failing.” You’re in a high-demand, low-support situation that would be stressful for anyone.

Therapist-Approved Tips (That Don’t Involve Becoming a Superhuman)

Let’s be real: You don’t need another list of elaborate crafts or 25 summer activity ideas involving glitter. You need sanity-saving strategies, like:

• Lower the bar: If everyone’s alive and occasionally brushes their teeth, you're doing great.

• Rotate toys: Hide half of them. Reintroduce them mid-July like you're a magician.

• Schedule “Bored Time”: It builds creativity and gives you a break from the entertainment committee.

• Call in reinforcements: Swap playdates with another parent, or pay the teenager down the street to play with your kids while you sit in your car and scroll TikTok in peace.

And if all else fails...

• Make popsicles dinner. It has fruit. It counts.

  
  

💬 In Case You Need to Hear This:

If you're exhausted, touched out, and dreaming of school buses like they’re chariots of freedom—you're not alone. Being ‘on’ all summer long is no small thing, especially when it feels like every other parent is posting highlight reels while you’re just trying to stay hydrated and sane. Remember: your worth as a parent (and as a human) is not measured by how many activities you plan or how organized your backyard is. Your presence is enough, even on the messy, meltdowny days.

You don’t have to love every moment to be a loving parent. You don’t have to turn summer into a magical core memory for it to matter. You’re allowed to need space, rest, and breaks—even (especially) in a season that’s labeled as one.

So Remember: there’s no prize for doing it all. Take the break. Lock the bathroom door. Reheat the coffee. You’re not doing it wrong—summer is just a lot and you're still a great parent!