First, a pat on the back. You did it. You got them over the finish line of Summer 2026. You planned the things. You did the things. You loved them well. Maybe that makes us helicopter parents. Maybe it makes us too involved. But if you’re anything like me, you were probably keeping a mental list of memories made over the last few weeks. My children may end up in therapy one day because of how I approach this, but to me, I want them to look back on their summers and remember traditions, adventures, and fun family and friend moments. That requires managing a lot of moving parts. Good job, Mom.
Now in case no one said this to you…
Great job packing those snacks for the beach. I’m proud of you for remembering the sunscreen, the cooler bag, the purple grapes (cut in half) for the kid who doesn’t like green. That must have been hard, getting everyone dressed on the days you went to the zoo solo (and made it back just in time for nap time — except they fell asleep in the car and then wouldn’t sleep at home). Their little overtired hearts are grateful, even if they’re too cranky and sun-kissed to tell you.
Great job organizing fifty bazillion camps so you could get work done, budgeting carefully for months to pay for them, and finding the right-sized water shoes, the labels that won’t come off, and the sunscreen they’ll actually wear.
Good job filling out all those forms, figuring out transportation and travel, and talking nervous kids through the first days.
And as the new year arrives and summer wraps up, good job braving that back-to-school section at the store. Good job sorting through ninety five binders to find the 1.5” blue one. Great work getting the spider man lunchbox, the new uniform shirts, and the up-sized sneakers here on time.
Orchestrating a summer and everything after it is a full-time job. And you did it.
And now, for part two.
If your house is quiet (or about to be) and you are feeling flat, bone-tired, and a little lost-ish after three months of all of the above, this is for you.
Balance is like riding a bike. If you lean hard in one direction for a while, it’s imperative to lean back the other way at the right time, or you’ll face plant (a full crash and burn). With littles returning to school and routine returning to your days, whether you’re working from home or outside of it, it’s time to lean back.
Many of you have spent the summer turning your daily calendar into a calculus problem, trying to fit in all the fun and all the work it takes to pay for the fun. I feel this way every time school starts back up, and I’ve come to accept that this is sort of how it goes. My best advice is to give yourself time to rest and recharge. Maybe that looks like an early bedtime for a few days. Maybe that looks like a few weekend naps. Whatever it is, listen to your body and give her what she needs. She summer’d hard, and it’s time to move into a new season feeling nourished, rested, and ready.
After that, I like to do a mini reset. Just a few days or weeks of stricter habits around eating, exercising, and resting. The looser summer way of living is fun, but nodding back to my bike analogy, it’s now time to lean the other way. I do this by planning meals in advance (every meal, not just dinner), committing to a bedtime and a wake time, and dedicating time to moving my body (just walks at first, but I’ll add in weights too). Nutritionally, this means less sugar, less refined food, less alcohol. More water, more whole foods, more supplements.
As someone who (unfortunately) gravitates toward a black-and-white, all-or-nothing way of living (which isn’t a great way to live, if you ask me), this practice of shifting into the next season well helps me be the type of mom I want to be, all while taking care of myself too.
And finally, I take an admin day to get organized. School calendars in the planner / on the iCal. House cleaned up and reset. Errands checked off the list. Whatever your system is, get it in place.
Lastly, take a moment to look back at the last three months and smile. Well done, moms. We did it. We made the memories. We loved them well. We got them to the next school year. Now, let’s refuel for a good school year ahead.
A very comfy pair of jeans for Fall. Also silk pants (bc it’s hot!) here and here.
This cooling eye serum really helps de-puff.
Using this L’ange heated straightening brush for Caroline’s hair before school.
My undated daily planner.
Borrowed this Chanel bag for August.
These new rugs for our living room (washable!).
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