As working parents (and all parents are working parents) I think we can agree that summers are the worst. But I used to love summer. What happened?
Summer is often marketed as a time for relaxation and family fun. While that might be true for our children, it's not so much for us. Should we be grateful for “perks” like Summer Fridays, which, sometimes add even more to the chaos?
Lately, it feels like summer is all work and very limited fun in the sun? What happened to long lazy days lounging in the pool?
For working parents, June through August are the most logistically complex and mentally exhausting months of the year.
Even the sun is against us, with the longest (and I mean longest) days of the year. Rude!
Here are just a few of the reasons the summer season adds so much to working parents’ mental load:
Childcare Becomes a Multi-Layered Scheduling Nightmare
Figuring out your childcare schedule is next to impossible and gets progressively worse as your children get older.
Yes, daycare runs through the summer. When your child is still in the baby phase, there might not be too much change to their daily routine. However, once you hit school age, suddenly figuring out temporary childcare for working parents is nothing short of a nightmare.
Camps can be outrageously expensive and there are often gaps between when school ends and camp begins. Camps may not offer “after-care” hours, leaving many parents to string together one-week and two-week camps to fill the summer. It's a constant juggle of logistics—and if you don't have your summer planned by February, better luck next year!
For older kids, figuring out what to do during the summer can be even more difficult. Sure, they may no longer need supervision all day and can even feed themselves (win!), but often times they may still be involved in activities with even wonkier hours and often still requires transportation assistance from you or another trusted adult!
Tip: Build a Shared Summer Calendar Early
It might sound crazy, but summer planing starts in the coldest months of winter. Use this time to map out all camp dates, gaps, travel plans, and work conflicts. Share this calendar with your partner or co-parent, and assign responsibilities. If possible, team up with other local parents to coordinate carpooling or backup care swaps.
Tip: Consider a Summer Nanny or Sitter
If you’re juggling multiple camp gaps, hiring a part-time nanny or teen helper (even just a few days a week) can provide consistency and coverage when camps fall short—and buy you a few uninterrupted work hours. You might even find a trustworthy local high schooler or college student who is looking for a summer gig.
“Summer Fridays” Aren’t Always the Gift They Seem
Summer Fridays sound great in theory, and more and more employers are using this as a tool to attract and engage employees.
The kicker, though, is that you are still expected to do the same amount of work, leading to longer hours Monday-Thursday (while still juggling aforementioned camp pick-up times!).
With this schedule, there will likely be more “logged-in" evenings after bedtime (which, due to the aforementioned daylight, is pretty late!). Plus you’re always still reachable during those “summer Fridays,” making it more stressful.
Just try to enjoy a Friday afternoon with your kids without having to jump on phone calls or respond to emails.
Tip: Reclaim Your Summer FridaysSet some summer boundaries. Block your calendar for Friday afternoons and set a clear OOO or “limited availability” message. Communicate with your team and manager about when you’ll be unavailable. Plan low-pressure, fun activities for that time (like ice cream outings, splash pads, or picnics) so you feel like you're making memories, not just checking messages from the park bench.
Tip: Plan Light Fridays
If your workload allows, schedule more focused, independent work on Fridays (like writing or catching up on reading) instead of meetings. That way, even if you are working, you can do it in a slower, less reactive rhythm.
Bedtime Battles Get Even Harder (How is That Even Possible?)
What pre-school/elementary school-aged child is actually easy to put to bed during the summer? When I try to get my girls done at their "normal" bedtime, they point to the window, look at me like I am out of my mind, and declare, "Mom, it's still day."
Bedtime is a yearlong struggle, but it becomes markedly more challenging in the summer months. Beyond the light problem, summer is exciting for a child. It's full of possibility, wonder, and fireflies! Who would want to go to bed?
It doesn’t matter how much you stick to the routine and use blackout shades, your kids will fight you with everything they’ve got! If you're tired from a long day at work—which you need to revisit after bedtime—how can you fight this battle every night?
Plus, there’s the side of you that’s finally enjoying some outside time with your kids after work. As a working parent, you don't always want to be the bedtime enforcer. You also want to have fun, enjoy some sun, and take advantage of a little summer magic. How is it possible to balance it?
Tip: Use Wind-Down Anchors, Not the Clock
Establish consistent wind-down rituals that signal bedtime no matter how bright it is: bath, books, quiet music. Blackout curtains help, but routine is your best weapon. Let go of the idea that bedtime must be at the same time year-round—aim for consistency in the process, not perfection in the hour.
Tip: Shift Mornings to Be Easier
Anticipate slower starts by prepping lunches, clothes, and bags the night before. If you’re working from home, consider easing into the day with a more relaxed first hour when possible.
Nostalgia Hits Hard
Here's the thing: all working parents aren't just trying to ship their kids off all year. We love them, we miss them, and we work to provide a good life for them. While I love my work and feel it makes me a more fulfilled parent, there’s a twinge of jealousy that creeps in each summer.
I think back to my own childhood—lazy afternoons at the pool, spontaneous outings, playing outside all day long, and squeezing every last drop out of those seemingly endless summer days—and I am jealous. I want a summer vacation, too!
While I wish I could give my kids that same experience, my reality looks more like a constant juggle of calendars, meetings, and camp drop-offs.
Tip: Focus on Micro-Moments
You don’t need a full day off to create summer memories. Look for pockets of joy: a morning walk before work, popsicles on the porch after dinner, or catching fireflies in the backyard. Kids don’t need grandeur—they remember the small rituals and the undivided attention.
Tip: Schedule One Special Summer DayBlock a day or half-day off just for you and your child(ren). Go to the beach, zoo, amusement park—whatever fills your collective cup. Planning just one dedicated summer day can shift the emotional narrative from “I missed everything” to “We made that day count.”
The Mental Load Skyrockets
The “Mental Load” is in overdrive during the summer.
We all know that moms tend to shoulder the majority of the mental load, but in the summer it only piles higher (check out some tips to reduce parental stress here).
Between changing logistics of all those camps, all the things you need to bring and prep for all the camps, enrollment forms, medical forms, specific apparel (dance camp, sports camp, “wacky wet Wednesday” at day camp) and even the start of back to school shopping (which starts pretty much the day school is out for the summer), it’s just plain exhausting.
Add potential vacation planning to the list, and guess who’s likely in charge of the planning, the packing, the organizing – yes, of course, mom. Not to mention the other nagging side of all of this: You still have to be productive at work!
Tip: Systematize the Chaos
Create a summer “command center” with labeled bins or folders for each camp or activity—include packing lists, permission slips, and must-haves. Use shared apps or notes (like Google Keep or Cozi) for recurring to-dos like “pack towel + extra clothes” or “theme day outfit.”
Tip: Ask for Help
Delegate what you can. If your partner isn’t already helping with camp forms, vacation planning, or shopping, make it a shared project.
Or outsource where possible: order labels, use delivery for camp gear, or look into services offered by your organization.
Let’s Rethink What “Balance” Means in the Summer
For many working parents, summer is anything but a break. It’s a season that demands more coordination, more flexibility, and more support. What looks like a perk on paper might be adding pressure in practice.
The mental load doesn’t go away—it just shifts into overdrive.
Because supporting your people year-round—including summer—is how we build workplaces that actually work for families.