The Beautiful, Messy Middle of Summer: A Note to Moms Navigating the Shift
There’s something undeniably sweet about summer. The sun lingers longer, the air is warmer, and life seems just a little more full. But even the sweetest seasons come with change and change, as many moms know, doesn’t arrive quietly.
With the start of summer, routines are upended. Schedules shift or disappear entirely. Mealtimes are off, the house gets louder, and it can feel like you're endlessly preparing snacks or cleaning up after a whirlwind of activity. And while this time of year can be joyful, it can also stir up anxiety.
If you’re feeling a bit disoriented or overwhelmed, you’re not alone. As moms, we’re constantly adapting. That flexibility is a gift, but it’s also tiring. And sometimes, it brings up a swirl of emotions that are hard to name.
What if, instead of trying to maintain the same pace or perfect order, this season invited something different? What if summer wasn’t about doing more but about shifting how we show up?
I often talk to the moms I work with about getting curious about their anxious parts. In Internal Family Systems (IFS), we learn to listen and tune into these parts. Instead of pushing the anxiety away, we ask:
What might this part be needing right now?
What is it trying to tell me?
What value might it be highlighting?
Maybe your anxious part is asking for rest, signaling that your usual pace isn’t sustainable. Maybe it’s rooted in love, a deep desire to be a great mom, to create meaningful memories, to be truly present. Often, anxiety points to something important. While it lives in the “what ifs,” with compassion and curiosity (two of the core C’s in IFS), we can uncover the deeper message underneath.
Hold onto this truth: You don’t have to have it all figured out. Your summer doesn’t need to be a Pinterest board to come to life. No one needs a perfectly crafted schedule, daily crafts, or packed calendars. What your kids will remember are the moments, your presence, your laughter, the unexpected joys and flexibility. The compassion you gave them. The compassion you gave yourself.
Because summer isn’t just for the kids. It’s for you too.
It’s a season that might stretch you, but if you let it, it can also soften you. It invites you into the beautiful, messy middle. A place where perfection isn't the goal. Presence is.
Let these be your gentle reminders:
Shift, not stress – It’s okay to pause and recalibrate.
Presence over perfection – A grounded heart matters more than a perfect plan.
Rhythms over routines – Allow for flexibility without losing peace.
Your home doesn’t have to run like a well-oiled machine. It can breathe. You can breathe.
You are the mom your kids need, not the idealized version in your mind, but the one who loves them, right here, right now.
