Summer Break Survival Guide: How to Stay Sane When Kids Are Home All Day
Alright mamas, we're three weeks into summer break and maybe you've already checked the school calendar for the first day of school countdown. (Just me? Ok...)
I'm writing this from my back deck right now, laptop balanced on my knees while my kids ask for more Lego Ninjago on Netflix for the third time today. We just got back from our first family vacation to see family in Nova Scotia, and while it was amazing, we're all a little overstimulated and readjusting to being home. Am I grateful for the flexibility to work outside? Absolutely. Am I also counting down until quiet time? Also, yes. Both feelings can, should, and do coexist.
Did social media promise you golden hour backyard adventures and endless giggles? Instead, reality delivered constant snack negotiations, sibling warfare, and the phrase "I'm bored" on repeat like a broken record from hell.
Here's what you won't hear at daycare pickup: Summer can be harder than the school year.
You want to enjoy every moment (after all, you only get 18 summers - complete BS, and you can listen to my rant about that here).
Maybe finances are tight, so you're feeling all kinds of ways about that. Maybe you don't have childcare and are trying to balance it all. You're parenting differently than how you were parented, and that takes so much more time and effort.
All of that can be true, and it's also magical in the messiest way. Where else can you debate whether popsicles count as breakfast while your kid builds an epic fort out of pure determination and couch cushions?
Whether you're home all summer juggling work calls between pool refills and Netflix negotiations, or you're a working mama trying to coordinate summer camps and multiple pickups while keeping your career intact—summer overwhelm is a whole different beast.
Why Summer Feels Harder Than the School Year
The research backs this up. Studies show that 48% of parents say most days their stress is completely overwhelming, compared to 26% among other adults. Summer amplifies this—when routine disappears and constant togetherness begins, that overwhelm skyrockets.
The clients in my office tell the real story. As one working mom shared over cold coffee in session last summer: "I thought I'd love having them home. Instead, I'm googling 'quiet activities' at 11pm while trying to catch up on the work I couldn't get done during the day. But I got to sit outside and work today... so I guess I'm grateful for the flexibility."
Add the pressure to make summer "special" (thanks, social media), the guilt about screen time, and the reality that you still have to work/manage a household/be a functioning adult while entertaining tiny humans 24/7. It's a perfect storm for overwhelm.
Two things can be true at once:
You can be grateful and overwhelmed
You can love your kids and miss the structure of the school year
You can prioritize the limits of your budget and still give them core memories
You can want to make memories and fantasize about sending them to their rooms for the rest of July
The Summer Permission Slips You Need
Permission to have boring days. Not every day needs to be an adventure. Sometimes the best summer days are the ones where everyone stays in pajamas, builds couch forts, and you order pizza because you can't handle making another meal.
Permission to say "I don't know, what do you think?" when they ask what to do. You are not their cruise director. You don't need to have a constant stream of activities planned. Boredom is good for them—it builds creativity and independence.
Permission to use screens (without guilt) if it's a helpful resource for your family.
Permission to not be fun all the time. You're their mom, not their entertainment committee.
Permission to lower your standards. The house can be messier. Meals can be simpler. Your kids will survive mac and cheese for lunch three days in a row.
Permission to ask for help without feeling guilty. Whether that's texting a friend, hiring a babysitter for a few hours, or asking your partner to take over bedtime so you can have a bath.
Studies show that boredom actually helps kids get creative and figure things out for themselves. So when they're whining about being bored? Their brains are literally getting ready to do something cool.
When You Hit Your Breaking Point: Quick Ways to Reset
You know that moment when you're about to lose it? Consider these gentle invitations:
The Bathroom Retreat: Sometimes the bathroom is the only room with a lock. Use it, and while you're in there, text a friend "I'm about to lose my shit" and take a deep breath.
The Quiet Time Rhythm: Everyone goes to their room for 30 minutes. They don't have to sleep, just be quiet. This is good for you and for them.
The Low-Bar Day: Some days, the goal is just to keep everyone alive and fed. The bar is on the floor, and that's perfectly okay.
Create a "boredom jar" filled with simple activities they can do independently. What you really need isn't more summer parenting strategies—it's permission to stop the guilt spiral when you implement them.
And here's a gentle truth from a mom who's been there: if you're snapping at them every day because you're trying to be the doer of all things, that's not serving anyone. And it doesn't have to be this way.
A Note from A Mom and Counsellor Who Gets It
I'm Kayla, a registered social worker and expressive arts therapist who specializes in helping overwhelmed moms find more calm in the chaos. I see clients virtually across Canada and in person in Leduc, Edmonton and area. I know firsthand that motherhood is beautiful, messy, and harder than anyone prepares you for.
If you're craving community with other moms who get this exact struggle, my Motherload Membership is designed for exactly this—putting down the mental load with women who understand. It's a space where you can explore your identity outside of motherhood and find creative outlets for all those big feelings that come with summer overwhelm.
So, Mama, Here's What You're Going to Do This Week
Pick one thing from this post. Just one.
Maybe it's implementing mandatory quiet time. Maybe it's creating that boredom jar. Maybe it's giving yourself permission to have a low-bar day without guilt. Maybe you need to book in with your therapist (or if you don't have one, with me).
Start there. Because the goal isn't to overhaul your entire summer—it's to make it 10% easier. And 10% easier can feel like a revelation when you're drowning.
How to Get Through the Rest of Summer (Even If You Lose Your Sh*t Sometimes)
Here's the thing: maybe you will lose your shit this summer. And that's okay too.
I once read about a mom preparing for her second birth who was terrified of having another panic attack. Her provider said something brilliant: "Let's plan for you to have one, so you're prepared. Then it'll be even better if you don't." The same logic applies here. Plan for the hard moments instead of just fearing them.
Look, if this isn't your first blog read from me, you know I'm not going to pretend that all this magical summer shit with my kids lights me up every second. It does—but it's not the only thing I like about summer. Some days are genuinely tough. But I also know that you've navigated harder things, and there are moments that make it all worthwhile.
There are moments that make it all worth it—like when your kids actually play together for 20 whole minutes without bloodshed, or when they get genuinely excited about something ridiculous like finding a really good stick.
Here's what I would say to you if I was the friend you texted from the bathroom "I'm about to lose my shit":
Go ahead, lose your shit if you need to. I know you don't want to lose it on them, so find an outlet, a container for the emotion. Ask yourself: How am I feeling right now? And why? Can I do something about it? What emotion do I want to feel? And how can I make that happen in the next hour?
I know it would be nice to have the kids at grandparents for a week, but if that's not possible, how do you get through the next hour? What can you do to boost your mood, even just a little?
You're figuring it out as you go—we all are. When you let them complain about being bored until they finally wander off and build something? That's not lazy parenting. When you choose a quiet afternoon over another outing because everyone's just done? You're modeling that rest matters.
Your kids aren't going to remember ALL of the rough moments, and you won't either 15 years from now. And that's not code for "cherish every moment because you're going to be old one day." That's just reality. They're going to remember some moments where things were rough, and they're also going to remember when you laughed when they made seaweed soup in the pool (ask me how I know), or when you said "sure, why not" to ice cream before dinner just because.
And honestly? I think you're doing a good job. Not perfect—none of us are. But good. And that's what matters.
Need More Than Summer Survival Strategies?
Sometimes summer overwhelm is a sign that you need deeper support for your mom mental health. You don't have to figure this out alone—and you don't have to wait until you're completely burned out to get help.
[Download: The 5-Minute Reset Guide for Overwhelmed Moms] - Get my free toolkit with quick strategies to reset your nervous system when you're at your breaking point.
Ready to connect with other moms who understand exactly what you're going through? Learn more about the Motherload Membership—a space designed for putting down the mental load and rediscovering yourself outside of motherhood.
Because you deserve support that goes beyond summer break survival tips. You deserve to thrive, not just survive.
Follow Kayla on her Instagram account @kayla.huszar
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This information is for educational purposes only. Kayla cannot provide personalized advice or recommendations for your unique situation or circumstances. Therefore, nothing on this page or website should replace therapeutic recommendations or personalized advice. If you require such services, please consult with a medical or therapeutic provider to determine what's best for you. Kayla cannot be held responsible for your use of this website or its contents. Please never disregard or delay seeking medical or therapeutic treatment because of something you read or accessed through this website.
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