Summer Break from a Real Mom:

by a Sage Tree client, identity is kept confidential

Summer used to be my favorite season.

Long sunny days, late sunsets, and the smell of fresh-cut grass made everything feel a little lighter. But now—as a mom of two busy, curious school-aged kids—summer feels less like a break and more like...a juggling act I never trained for.

When that last school bell rings in May, our family's schedule flips upside down. No more predictable mornings of school drop-offs and quiet work hours. Instead, every day feels like a creative challenge: How do I fill eight hours without endless screen time, sibling fights, or total boredom? Camps, playdates, popsicle runs, library trips—it’s all wonderful. But it’s also exhausting (and expensive!)

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By mid-June, I usually notice the signs in myself: irritability, shorter patience, late bedtimes (theirs and mine), and a sense of running on fumes. As Elizabeth Stallone-Lowder writes in "The Sweet Spot of Self-Care for Moms", summer reminds us that self-care isn't about adding more to the list—it’s about doing small things differently to make space for you amongst the chaos.

Here are a few summer-saving ideas inspired by her book that actually work for me:

🌿 "Micro-moments" of calm: Instead of waiting for a full "me time" hour (that never comes), I take five quiet minutes on the porch before they wake up. No phone. Just breathing and coffee.

🌿 Permission to say no: I remind myself that we do not have to do every activity. Skipping that last playdate or extra camp week is okay—less rush means more rest for everyone.

🌿 Low-stakes joy: Elizabeth suggests finding “the sweet spot” between obligation and enjoyment. For me, that’s an audiobook in the carpool line or taking a walk by myself, not just because the dog needs exercise. I pay attention to my preferences, needs and wants more now, thanks to Elizabeth's encouragement.

🌿 Body kindness over body pressure: Summer is not the season for body shaming! I mean no season is but we can feel extra harsh about our bodies during the hotter months. Let's aim for body positivity - what has your body done for you lately. If that's too difficult? Try body neutrality. Reframe your thoughts when body negativity crops up.

🌿 Mental decluttering: A five-minute list dump in a journal (instead of keeping it swirling in my head) helps me fall asleep faster and improves my overall mood. Elizabeth is a big fan of journaling, but she doesn't advocate for a ton of rules when doing so. I learned that journaling, about anything, for ten minutes a day can be just as effective as some medications in improving your mood!

Some days, summer still feels long. But with these tiny shifts, it also feels a little sweeter—and so do I.

Want more realistic self-care ideas for busy moms? Check out Elizabeth Stallone-Lowder’s workbook:👉 "The Sweet Spot of Self-Care for Moms" on Amazon or "My Weekly Pages: a reflection and prompt journal"