If you’re a parent, you probably already feel it creeping up: the whirlwind of May. The programs. The end-of-year celebrations. The sign-ups. The school chaos. It’s like December in flip-flops. And what follows? A summer that somehow manages to feel both long and chaotic, with less structure and even more people in your house.
So here’s the question I’ve been asking in almost every session lately, and now, I want to ask you:
How are you proactively protecting your mental health as your family transitions from the chaos of May into the marathon of summer?
Let’s Start with May
May isn’t just busy—it’s stacked. Every school-aged child seems to have some kind of “end of” everything, complete with events, parties, performances, and ceremonies. It’s beautiful… and also exhausting.
Here’s what often gets missed: downtime. Most of us don’t naturally plan for rest in May. We treat it like a sprint—when it’s actually the prelude to another marathon. And that sprint often ends in burnout.
Start now by looking at your May calendar.
Where are the white spaces? Can you block them off intentionally as “do nothing” moments? Protect them like you would a doctor’s appointment. It’s not about skipping meaningful events—it’s about balancing them.
Rest is Resistance
In a culture that pushes productivity and perfection, choosing rest is countercultural. But here’s the deal: teaching our kids how to rest might be one of the most important life lessons we give them.
That might mean saying no to something—even something good—so you can say yes to what your family really needs. Whether that’s a quiet Wednesday evening at home, a slow Saturday morning, or simply fewer things packed into one weekend.
Summer Is Coming… Now What?
Here’s what tends to happen: We don’t plan for summer because it feels so… open. But then suddenly it’s mid-July, we’re out of snacks, screen time has taken over, and no one knows what day it is.
Summer doesn’t have to happen to you. You can be intentional.
Now’s the time to ask:
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What does your family need to feel grounded this summer?
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Where will rest and connection fit into your rhythm?
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What are the practical things—like swimsuits, summer reading plans, or ice cream runs—that you can prep now?
And maybe most importantly:
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What do you need to feel like yourself this summer?
For some, that means coffee with a friend before schedules get tricky. For others, it could be starting therapy while you’ve got a bit more flexibility. Don’t forget that you get to exist as a whole person—even in the midst of summer parenting.
Marking the Transition
Another helpful tool? Celebrate the shift.
Instead of letting school end in a blur and summer start with a bang, create a pause. That could be as simple as an ice cream cone on the last day of school or a family chat about what everyone loved most about the year. Mark the transition. Acknowledge what’s ending before jumping into what’s next.
It helps your kids—and you—mentally shift gears and process the change instead of just powering through it.
Summer Logistics, But Make It Life-Giving
This part isn’t glamorous, but it matters:
Get the calendar out. Look at the weeks. Who’s going where? What’s happening when? Where are the natural moments to connect? To rest? To play?
Maybe you’re the “ice cream house” (stock up now!). Maybe your kids are old enough to make their own lunches. Maybe this is the summer you experiment with screen-time expectations or teach your kids how to help plan their own weeks.
Involve them. Collaborate. And remember: you can course-correct.
Summer doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be intentional.
A Final Word
If you’ve ever ended a summer feeling frustrated, burned out, or like it all flew by in a blur, you’re not alone. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Now, while you’ve still got some breathing room, take a little time to plan—not just the logistics, but the values. What kind of summer do you want your family to have? What kind of parent do you want to be in it?
Name it. Plan for it. Make space for rest.
You’ve got this.