Summer is supposed to feel like freedom—no alarm clocks, no packed lunches, no frantic morning routines. But let’s be real: when the kids are out of school, it can feel like the chaos is turned all the way up. There are snack crumbs everywhere, someone is always yelling (or crying), and if one more LEGO ends up under your bare foot, you might actually lose it. It’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed when the rhythm of school life disappears and the noise, mess, and constant needs take over.
But here’s the sweet truth we sometimes forget in the thick of it: our kids are genuinely happy to be home with us. Yes, even if they’re bouncing off the walls and leaving juice cups in every room. They love the safety of our presence and the permission to just be. And while it might not always feel like it, these summers are numbered. One day, the noise will be gone and the house will be quiet—too quiet.
So, every now and then, take a breath and put down the “parent hat.” Let the to-do list sit for a while. Say yes to the messy fort, the popsicles before dinner, the goofy dance party. Sit on the floor. Be silly. Laugh with them. It doesn’t mean the laundry won’t get done or the bills won’t be paid—it just means you're choosing connection, even for a moment. And those moments? They matter more than we realize.
Let’s be kind to our kids this summer. Let’s be kind to ourselves too.
