Summer has arrived! Hooray! This means we can take a break from the homework battles with our kids, ease up on bedtime routines, and hopefully enjoy some extra sunshine to make up for being homebodies over the last year.
However, summer also brings its own set of challenges. Our kids are underfoot all day, with seemingly nothing to do. Should we enroll them in those pricey camps that stretch our budgets? Are those camps safe yet? Do we feel guilty about their screen time? Or do we just throw our hands up and appreciate the rare moments of peace and quiet?
Then there’s the humidity, the mosquitoes, and the constant negotiations over sunscreen and who gets the last popsicle. By the end of August (or maybe even by the end of June), we’re usually more than ready for the season to wrap up.
Confessions from Other Parents
Here are some confessions from other parents who are equally excited about summer—because it’s supposed to be fun!—but also dreading it because, let’s be honest, it can be a real headache.
“Today I realized that summer break is around the corner, but there are still no activities in my area. I’ll be stuck at home, working while entertaining my daughter all summer… again. I’ve held back tears all day.”
Confessional #25834122
“I really wish my partner was back in the office this summer.”
Confessional #25836615
“Last summer, I wanted everything to be normal. This summer, I just want some peace.”
Confessional #25836017
“My kids are anxious about the new no-mask rules. They’re old enough to worry about COVID but too young to be vaccinated yet. Looks like we’re in for another summer of COVID at home.”
Confessional #25832585
“Excited for pandemic summer #2! *sigh* Many parents are still working from home, and kids’ activities haven’t fully reopened yet. We all need to figure out what to do with our kids for the summer months. Wheeeeee.”
Confessional #25835866
“My son got kicked out of summer camp again. I thought we were past this stage. I feel angry, embarrassed, and ashamed. Why can’t we figure this out?”
Confessional #25834132
“We’re stretched thin trying to give our two kids three separate weeks of sleepaway camp. How does everyone else afford this? I want them to make these memories before they’re too old to appreciate them.”
Confessional #25834132
“I skipped signing my kids up for camps this summer, thinking we could just relax and enjoy ourselves! I won’t make that mistake again…”
Confessional #25225898
Then there’s camp stress—the pressure to send kids even when it’s financially tight, the uncertainty around COVID safety, and the awkward moments when you show up at camp in a t-shirt that’s maybe not appropriate. (But hey, Jesus loves everyone, right?)
“I usually find being a stay-at-home parent rewarding, but during the summer, I feel like I’m losing my mind.”
Confessional #25835730
“Three days left of school and I’m already thinking, ‘Ugh, these kids!’ I don’t want to spend my summer playing camp director and referee. I’ve done it for 15 years—I’m over it.”
Confessional #25833815
“My kids drive me nuts, and I’m not looking forward to summer because of it! I love them, but it takes only ten minutes of them being home from school for me to wish they were back!”
Confessional #25833168
“I hate being a mom sometimes. Without school and summer camps, I don’t know what to do with my kids. They end up on their devices all day, and I feel like a failure.”
Confessional #25790651
“I’m a stay-at-home parent, so putting my kids in camps all day doesn’t make financial sense. But being around them all day is exhausting, even if I love them.”
Confessional #25091077
The truth is, summer can be incredibly tough for many moms. The constant expectation to be a fun-filled cruise director is draining. You want to make the most of these fleeting summers with your children, yet some days you find yourself counting down the days until school starts again.
“I’ve packed our summer with activities to distract myself from my worries. It seems like a good plan.”
Confessional #25835185
“Summer anxiety is real. I worry about bug-borne illnesses, skin cancer in my family, and whether I’m using bug spray and sunscreen correctly. I just want to relax!”
Confessional #25834874
“My office won’t reopen until the end of August, so I’m facing another summer of working from home with my partner and three teenage stepdaughters. It’s a mixed bag of anxiety and chaos.”
Confessional #25834160
And for many, summer is a peak time for mental health challenges. It might be surprising, or maybe it isn’t, if you’re one of those moms dealing with these struggles.
“I cherish the best summer memories, but I also dread the season.”
Confessional #25832749
“I love spring and summer, but I can’t stand the bugs!”
Confessional #25830725
“I can’t wait for summer, but I’m terrified of wearing a swimsuit because I’m self-conscious about my body. Help!”
Confessional #25828027
“I complain in winter because I detest the snow, and I complain in summer because I hate yard work. I’m never satisfied.”
Confessional #25827812
In the end, many parents come to realize that they have a complicated relationship with summer. They love the late nights, swimming, and beach days, but they also dread the crankiness that follows a late night and the effort it takes to enjoy a day at the beach—especially in the sweltering heat.
Summer is here for the next couple of months—like it or not. Let’s hope that this summer is at least a little better than last year. If you’re vaccinated and ready to go, things are looking up!
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Summary:
The article explores the mixed feelings many parents have about summer, celebrating the break from school and the chance for fun while also expressing the anxieties and challenges that come with it. Confessions from parents reflect on their struggles with keeping kids entertained, financial pressures of summer camps, and the emotional toll of balancing work and family life during the season. Ultimately, it highlights the complexities of summer parenting and the hope for a better experience this year.