Don’t Lose Your Sh*t!: How to Survive Summer as a Work-at-Home Mom
My kids are great kids, but they are busy kids. All three of them are involved in competitive sports, as well as choir, after-school clubs, and orchestra. Every day of the week (including weekends!) has some type of practice, game, competition, or performance – often in different locations but somehow occurring simultaneously.
This season is a slower pace for us here. Not only can we turn off those 6 am bus stop alarms, but their practice schedules slow way down. They still have occasional workouts or summer tournaments, but it’s nothing like the school year. There’s more time to just be.
As much as I love it, once that bus pulls away for the final time and the kids are home ALL DAY LONG, I have to get creative if I want to keep the peace, get my work done, grow my business, and make memories with my kids.
While I am far from an expert (anyone who knows me IRL knows I’m just here for the vibes…), I have learned a thing or two in this decade of motherhood. While my patience might not always be on point, my multitasking abilities are, so here are some of my favorite tips to have fun in the sun… without losing my shit.
First Things First: A Reality Check
Let’s get this out of the way first. Some days, you’re going to be flying high – visiting the zoo, hitting the pool, and checking off every to-do on your list– but not every day will look like a Pinterest board bucket list. And that’s okay!
Some days are going to be harder than others. Some days, you’re going to feel a little dysfunctional, and you might fall into bed at night with things still on your to-do list, but I promise: it’s not the end of the world.
Once you understand that you cannot and should not try to do everything at once, it gets easier to survive a summer working at home without boring your kids to tears.
Color Coordinate that Calendar
My closest friends all like to make fun of my color-coded Google calendar. But you know what, that shit works and I’m not about to stop my routine just because it’s hot outside.
You don’t have to be as structured as you are throughout the school year, but some structure will save your sanity.
Start each week with a loose plan. Block your most important work during times when kids are naturally more independent or – miracle of miracles – napping. Visual schedules with pictures can help younger children understand when it's "quiet work time" versus "mom is available" time.
Remember: the schedule is a guide, not a prison sentence. Some days it will work beautifully. Other days, it will crash and burn spectacularly before 9 AM. Both outcomes are perfectly normal.
The Art of Strategic Communication (I Mean, Incentives)
"If you let me finish this article without fighting with your brother, we can swim after lunch."
Is this bribery? Absolutely. Does it work? You bet your ass it does.
Keep a stash of "special" activities that only come out during important calls or deadlines. New coloring books, screen time, that messy slime you normally ban from the house – desperate times call for desperate measures.
Pro tip: Noise-canceling headphones are not just for airplane travel. They're for pretending you don't hear "Mom! She touched me!" or “MOM! Can I play Fortnite?!” for the fourteenth time while you're trying to finish an email.
Kick Guilt to the Curb
The guilt is real. While you're responding to emails, your neighbor is taking her kids to the water park. While you're meeting deadlines, Instagram shows your mom friends having a beach day.
Here's your permission slip: You don't have to be the summer entertainment director AND a professional. Your kids will not be emotionally scarred because you worked through the summer. In fact, you're teaching them valuable lessons about responsibility, work ethic, and the reality that sometimes life involves doing things we don't want to do.
Quality over quantity, always. Fifteen fully engaged minutes beat two distracted hours of you screaming “JUST GIVE ME A DAMN MINUTE” every time.
Embrace the Idea of “Good Enough”
Summer is the season of lowered standards. Beds made? Optional. Matching clothes? Not here! Three meals that involve actual nutrition? Aim for one, celebrate if you hit two.
Popsicles can count as fruit. Screen time limits might need adjusting. The house will be messier. These temporary compromises make space for what matters: maintaining your professional responsibilities while not completely losing your connection with your children.
Survival Tactics for Specific Summer Challenges
The "I'm Bored" Broken Record
We have every video game and toy known to mankind, but my kids will always find a way to be BORED. Before they start whining, I point them to the Boredom Buster jar. It’s filled with activity ideas that require zero parental involvement. Yes, "go clean your room" can be one of the options.
The Constant Snack Requests
“Can I have a snack?” Girl, if you eat any more snacks, I’m going to have to start a GoFundMe. Avoid this constant request by setting up a snack station with pre-portioned options that kids can access independently.
The Sibling War Zone
My kids absolutely adore each other … until they don’t. That’s where the "figure it out first" policy comes in. They must attempt to resolve conflicts (within reason) before interrupting me.
If they really want to tattle, we have a stuffed llama who lives in my office. They can come to the Drama Llama to tattle about how one sister ate a red fruit snack before the other sister ate her red fruit snack. You know … really life-changing stuff.
The Workday That Never Ends
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably bad with boundaries. But, unfortunately, without clear boundaries, you'll find yourself answering emails at the pool or finishing reports at midnight. Set work hours and (mostly) stick to them. The work will always be there – your kids' summer won't.
Get Help!
You're not meant to do this alone. Sometimes you just need to reach out for help.
Consider a summer "co-working" arrangement with another family where kids play together while parents tag-team supervision while you co-work.
You could also:
Swap childcare with another work-at-home parent.
Hire the teenager next door for a few hours.
Set up virtual playdates where kids can chat with friends online while you work.
Or, my personal favorite, send them to camp a few weeks out of the summer. They get out of the house to do something they enjoy and you get some dedicated peace and quiet to concentrate. It’s a win-win!
Self-Care: Not Just a Buzzword
While you’re busy caring for everyone else (the kids, your clients…), don’t forget to take care of yourself.
Schedule breaks for yourself that don't involve laundry or dishes. A 15-minute walk alone or an everything shower without someone banging on the door can feel like heaven. We need those small moments of solitude to get through this busy season.
Keep a summer survival kit in your home office: chocolate, a stress ball, headphones, and perhaps a small bottle of something that helps you unwind after 5 PM. No judgment here.
Give Into the Chaos
Sometimes, you just need to ditch the plan. When your brain is fried and the kids are bouncing off walls, call it a day. Step away from your computer and go to the pool, have a water balloon fight, or watch movies in a blanket fort.
These moments of connection make the challenging days worthwhile – and might just give you the mental refresh you need to come back tomorrow, ready to attack the day.
Remember: September Is Coming
When all else fails, count the days until school starts again. Summer is a marathon, and sometimes the finish line is the only motivation you need.
Plus, if your kids are anything like mine, they start to look forward to going back to school. They’re ready to see their teachers and friends and get back to their normal routine again.
It’s Okay if You Lose Your Sh*t
The beautiful chaos of summer with kids isn’t always easy, especially if you’re trying to balance childcare with working from home. But with some planning, adjusted expectations, strategic bribes, and a healthy dose of humor, you'll make it through with most of your sanity intact.
And when you do inevitably lose your sh*t, remember: you’re not alone. This parenting thing isn’t easy. Apologize, reset, and give yourself grace. You're doing the impossible every day, and that's something to celebrate – preferably with ice cream. Or a nap. Definitely a nap.
