Summer’s Coming… and So Is the Stress: A Survival Guide for Overwhelmed Moms

Ah, summer. The season of splash pads, sidewalk chalk, sunscreen… and slowly losing your mind.

Let’s be honest—when you hear “summer is almost here,” do you feel a flutter of excitement or a mild sense of dread? If your nervous system responded with a clenched jaw and a mental spiral about childcare, snacks, screen time limits, and sibling fights over who gets the blue popsicle, you’re in good company.

Because while summer can be magical, it can also be a lot—especially if you’re the one expected to hold everything together like a human glue stick.

Let’s talk about it.

You’re Not a Bad Mom for Dreading Summer

Let’s get this out of the way: you are not failing if you’re looking at the next three months and feeling… exhausted already. There’s a certain mythology around summer for kids—freedom! joy! adventure!—that somehow turns into pressure on moms to deliver Pinterest-worthy memories daily, all while working, managing a household, and maybe, just maybe, trying to carve out three minutes to breathe.

The truth? Many women feel overwhelmed during the summer because the daily structure that keeps their sanity intact disappears. Suddenly, you’re not just a mom—you’re a cruise director, chef, referee, camp counselor, lifeguard, and personal assistant. (And you’re doing it all for free.)

So What’s a Woman to Do? Strategies for a Less-Stress Summer

Before you start mapping out 87 crafts and 14 theme park days to “keep the kids busy,” pause. Let’s talk about what you need to make this summer survivable (and maybe even enjoyable).

1. Stop romanticizing summer—set real expectations.

Summer doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t need to be structured like a Montessori Pinterest board. Your children will survive boredom. In fact, research shows that boredom fuels creativity. So repeat after us: “I am not responsible for curating a magical experience every single day.”

2. Make a loose rhythm—not a strict schedule.

Kids thrive on routine, but you don’t need to schedule every minute. Think “anchor points” instead—like breakfast, outdoor time, lunch, quiet time, and dinner. Then fill in the blanks (or don’t!) based on your energy and their moods.

3. Designate “quiet hours.”

Even if it means screen time. Even if they whine. A daily “quiet time” is good for everyone’s nervous system. During this time, you also get to rest, scroll in peace, drink a warm coffee, or do nothing. (Doing nothing = doing something for your mental health.)

4. Call in reinforcements.

You were never meant to do this alone. Can you do a weekly kid swap with a friend? Ask a grandparent for help? Hire a teenager to come play for an hour or two? Take advantage of those options when you can—guilt-free.

5. Plan for you, too.

We often plan our kids’ summers down to the last scoop of ice cream, but forget to carve out anything for ourselves. Whether it’s a book club, a morning walk, or just a night where no one touches you or asks for a snack—put it on the calendar and guard it like a raccoon guards garbage.

6. Don’t wait until you’re drowning to ask for help.

Feeling overwhelmed is not a moral failure. It’s a signal that something needs to shift. That might be your expectations, your boundaries, or the support around you. Therapy can help you find clarity—and maybe even joy—in the chaos.

You Deserve a Summer That Feels Good for You, Too

Whether you’re a working mom trying to juggle Zoom calls with snack time, a stay-at-home mom facing long days without childcare, or somewhere in between—you deserve validation, support, and a sense of agency over your summer.

You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through the next few months.
You don’t have to “enjoy every moment.”
You do get to prioritize your mental health and your needs.

And if you need a space to process the pressure, vent the stress, or just figure out how to survive (and maybe even thrive) this summer—we’re here for you.

Need Support Navigating Summer Stress? Let’s Talk.

At Revive Relationship Therapy, we work with women navigating anxiety, burnout, identity shifts, and the often invisible labor of motherhood. You don’t have to carry this alone. If you’re in the Chicago area—or open to virtual therapy—we’d love to help you feel more grounded, supported, and sane this summer.

📍 Visit us at https://revivelincolnpark.com/contact to schedule a free consultation or reach out for more information.
You’ve got this—but you don’t have to do this alone.