As summer unfolds and resembles the school year, working parents often grapple with overwhelming feelings of guilt. While some families are navigating the chaos of keeping kids entertained during those long, sweltering days, many working moms face a different dilemma. The challenge is singular: guilt.
When summer breaks seem to blend into the routine of the rest of the year—save for a brief vacation here and there—it’s easy for moms to feel like they’re not providing enough for their children. Many working parents find themselves enrolling their kids in full-time daycare or juggling a series of camps to fill the summer weeks until school resumes.
In a poignant essay for a local publication, Sarah Thompson articulates the sentiments shared by countless working moms as summer progresses. “By mid-July, I realize that summer doesn’t feel distinct enough from the rest of the year. We’re still racing from one obligation to another. (Camp! Work! Soccer practice! Grocery shopping! Dance class!) Each year, I vow it will be different, but it never quite is. My kids hardly have time to say that classic childhood line: ‘I’m bored.’
I can relate. When I held a full-time office position, my summers mirrored this hectic pattern as soon as my kids entered school. Before they reached school age, their year-round childcare routine only required me to swap winter coats for swimsuits at daycare when summer rolled around.
Sarah reflects on a week during her family’s vacation where her children finally experienced what she believed summer should feel like—filled with board games, late-night outdoor play, and ample swimming. This is where the guilt surged back in. “Somewhere along the way, I internalized the notion that summer should be like that every day. Perhaps it stems from my own childhood, when I rarely attended camp and often found myself bored.”
I too reminisce about my carefree childhood summers spent at home without a strict agenda. I woke up at my leisure, spent hours outside or simply followed my whims—playing video games, immersing myself in books, chatting with friends, or heading to the local pool. I also experienced my fair share of boredom.
Like Sarah, I mistakenly believed that my kids deserved the idyllic summers of yesteryear, and by working full-time, I was somehow depriving them of that experience. But then, over time, I came to a realization. It’s nonsense.
Now that I work from home, my children are enjoying summers more akin to what I once envisioned. Yet, I recall the joyful summers they had at various camps while I worked outside the home—full of friendship bracelet-making, learning to swim, and singing camp songs. Though I often felt guilty dropping them off each morning, they were having a blast. The only one truly miserable was me.
Fast forward to today, and I find myself cramming my days off with activities to ensure we maximize summer fun, while on my workdays, they become “bored” and glued to the TV, leaving me with a different kind of guilt.
Can you see the pattern? Guilt is ever-present, but it shouldn’t be. The truth is, my kids are thriving. Whether it’s a day filled with outings or a workday spent at home, they’re creating cherished memories. As I wrestle with guilt, they’re simply focused on having fun.
It’s time to silence that nagging voice in my head and embrace the joy they’re experiencing.
Conclusion
In summary, working moms often face guilt during summer as they juggle responsibilities and seek to provide enriching experiences for their kids. Many find themselves caught in a cycle of feeling inadequate, but it’s essential to recognize that children can thrive in a variety of environments, regardless of a parent’s work commitments. Embracing this perspective can help alleviate the guilt and allow parents to focus on the fun moments their children are enjoying.