Summer Break, Not Sanity Break: Watching My Sister Parent in the Heatwave of Chaos
Okay, so confession time: I don’t have kids, just 2 dogs #thrivingdogmom, lol.
But I do have a front-row seat to what summer with kids really looks like—thanks to my sister, her two adorable-but-wild little humans, and the chaos that unfolds every single day around 9:00 a.m. (a.k.a. two hours after school would’ve started).
Now don’t get me wrong—my niece and nephew are amazing. They’re hilarious, creative, full of life…and apparently, hungry all the time. Like, all the time. I spent one weekend at her house in June, and I swear I heard the phrase, “I want a snack” more than I’ve heard my own name this year.
And my sister? God bless her. This woman is trying to work, manage screen time, referee fights, clean the same room five times a day, keep everyone hydrated, and not lose her entire will to live—while also planning “fun summer memories” because Pinterest told her to.
Summer break, my friends, is a scam.
Let’s talk about the parental summer spiral—it’s real, it’s messy, and it’s EXHAUSTING.
Here are a few scenes from the frontlines of her house:
Scene One: It’s 10:12 a.m. The kids are screaming over who gets the “blue bowl.” Not the cereal, not the toy—the BOWL. Meanwhile, my sister is Googling “quiet indoor activities that don’t involve glitter or emotional breakdowns.”
Scene Two: She planned a fun trip to the zoo. By the time they were dressed, packed, sunscreened, and out the door, everyone was already crying. Including the mom.
Scene Three: The kids wake up before the sun, asking “What are we doing today?” like she’s the cruise director of a floating playground. Spoiler: the answer is always snacks, cartoons, and 14 mini-emergencies.
Meanwhile, I’m over here living my best child-free summer life, sipping iced coffee or wine, lighting a candle, and feeling both wildly grateful and deeply unqualified to give her advice—unless that advice is “You’re doing amazing, sweetie,” and handing her a frozen margarita in a travel cup.
But seriously, summer is hard for parents. The routine is gone, childcare is $$$ (I almost fainted at the cost of daycare per week, seriously how do you parents manage it?), expectations are sky-high, and somehow moms (and dads) are supposed to be present, joyful, patient, fun, AND keep the house clean while everyone’s home all day? Did I mention that you are still expected to bring home the paycheck? Impossible. Literally impossible.
So, if you're reading this and you're the one hiding in the bathroom for five minutes of peace, let me say this clearly:
You’re not failing. You’re human.
You’re allowed to feel overwhelmed, overstimulated, and over it.
You don’t have to turn every day into a memory.
And you’re allowed to serve cereal for dinner if it means keeping your sanity intact.
This summer, can we normalize good enough parenting?
Messy buns, screen time, skipped baths, and actual rest?
Your kids don’t need perfection—they need you, with all your tired hugs, snack negotiations, and half-finished coffee.
Affirmation for today (repeat after me):
I am not a summer camp director—I’m a parent doing their best. My love matters more than the schedule, the craft projects, or the Pinterest lunches.
To my sister and every summer-surviving parent out there: I see you. I’m cheering you on. And I’ll happily watch your kids for one afternoon—as long as you don’t mind if we all nap.
Written by Maureen Mbugua