Embracing Summer: Mom of Busy Kids

Embracing Summer as a Mom of Busy Kids

Summer shows up with its own kind of beautiful chaos, doesn’t it?

The house is louder, the days are longer, and the calendar fills up faster than I can say “sunscreen.” With three active kids and a never-ending to-do list, it would be easy to let the summer days slip by in a blur of snacks, sunscreen battles, and screen time negotiations.

But I don’t want to just survive summer—I want to embrace it.

Because these are the days that memories are made of. Sticky popsicles on the porch. Wild bike rides around the block. Late-night giggles under twinkle lights in the backyard. These are the moments that become the stories they tell when they’re grown.

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24 (ESV)

This verse reminds me: today is a gift—even the sticky, sandy, snack-covered ones.

So how do we, as moms, embrace summer with our busy crew? Here are a few ways I’m leaning in this year, heart-first and hands open:

1. Create a Loose Rhythm (Not a Rigid Schedule)

I used to think summer needed to be planned to perfection. Now I know that flexibility is freedom.

Try building in a gentle rhythm for your week:

Mondays: Park or splash pad
Tuesdays: Library & quiet reading time
Wednesdays: Backyard picnic lunch
Thursdays: Try a new craft or recipe
Fridays: Family movie night outside with blankets and popcorn

You don’t have to do everything. Just something—together.

2. Get Outside—Even If It’s Just the Backyard

Vitamin D, fresh air, and space to move—it does wonders for all of us. Even 20 minutes outside can turn a cranky day around.

Some favorites:

Water balloon baseball
Chalk art obstacle courses
Fishing
Collecting rocks, leaves, or wildflowers for a nature collage
Stargazing with a blanket and a Bible

“He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.” — Psalm 104:19 (NIV)

God created summer. Let’s get out in it.

3. Make Time for One-on-One Moments

Amid the busyness, our kids still crave connection. Summer gives us the rare chance to slow down enough to see them, to hear them.

Try:

A morning walk with just one child
Baking their favorite treat together
Reading a chapter book aloud at bedtime
A simple card game on the porch just the two of you

Let them know they matter individually—not just as part of the pack.

4. Anchor the Day in Truth

Even when we’re running from swim lessons to baseball practice, I try to find a few minutes—maybe just in the car or during nap time—to center my heart.

And I involve the kids when I can:

Read a short Psalm at breakfast
Talk about how we saw God’s goodness that day
Memorize one verse for the week and write it in chalk on the driveway

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds… Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road.” — Deuteronomy 11:18–19 (NIV)

Faith can be woven gently into the fabric of summer.

5. Let Go of the Pressure to Make It Perfect

Not every day will feel magical. Some days will feel like meltdowns and mosquito bites. And that’s okay.

Our job isn’t to manufacture perfection—it’s to be present.

Let the house be messy if it means saying “yes” to a water fight. Let bedtime be late if it means making s’mores over a campfire. Let the moments breathe.

Because this season isn’t forever. But the love we pour in? That lasts.