Last Friday afternoon Caroline hopped off the bus for the very last time as a first grader and Thomas finished his last day of daycare…and our 13 weeks of summer break officially began!
I mention this every summer but being a working mom during summer break is really hard for me. Like really, really, really hard. I’ve put a million hours into planning out an incredibly fun summer for the kids — packed with summer camps that I know they are going to love, some pretty fantastic activities and a beach vacation that is going to blow their minds. Yet without fail, summertime kills my mama heart. I get so insanely jealous of my SAHM friends as they check off summer bucket list items, spend hot days at the pool and enjoy the freedom of no alarms or schedules. There’s only so much fun we can cram into the weekends so I feel like we miss out on a lot. So I tend to overcompensate by getting creative with the time we have together (which usually means over-scheduled weekends and lots of Pinterest scrolling. Ha!).
A few summers ago we created a Charlotte Ice Cream Bucket List which was a delicious and fun experience. And for this year the kids helped us create an ambitious summer bucket list filled with a wide variety of activities from shrimp boils to beach fun. I absolutely cannot wait for all we have in store this summer!!
OK, I digress!
Here’s are some highlights from of our last day of school and summer break kick-off…
It’s WILD how much both kids have grown and changed over the past year! Of course, we had to take “last day of school” pictures to capture the milestone.
To celebrate Caroline’s last day of 1st grade and Thomas’s last day of TK, Matt and I set up water balloon stations and an ice cream bar for when they arrived home. On our walk home from the bus Caroline let me know that “everyone” in her class got picked up by their moms way early from school but she quickly recovered when we got to the top of the driveway and spotted the water balloon stations. The kids were elated! Thomas and I were Team Blue and Matt and Caroline were Team Red. And no one held back in the war. It was a blast. 
Afterwards the kids loaded their waffle bowls with ice cream, toppings by the handful and lots of syrups.
Happy Summer, friends!! And tell me what’s on YOUR bucket list!!
I just want to say I feel you on the working Mom front in the summer! It’s the only time of year that I do think the kids might benefit from me staying home. I try to remember when my kids telling people about the cool camps they went too that this is cool and special for them. They don’t know any other way to do summer so they are thrilled with summer!
Thank you for sharing, friend!! I try to remember this too!!
What a fun way to finish the year! Just wanted to say that your honesty about the ups and downs of being a working mom is 100 percent why I follow your blog – as a not-yet-mom who plans to keep working and grew up with a SAHM, it’s so valuable to read your perspective and see all the awesome stuff you do with the kids! They are so lucky to have you.
This means so much to me. Thank you!!! I grew up with a SAHM so it definitely weighs on me!
From one working mom to another..the guilt is REAL!!!
Right?! So hard!!
This is why I’ve followed you for years! I knew I’d be a working mom and appreciate how you make it work and make it great! I’m a new working mom and it’s not always easy, so I am learning from other working moms like you 🙂
Aw, thanks mama!! We’re all doing the best we can!!
Christina, you are such a great mom and have been since day one! You do so many fun things with your kids and they will one day look back and realize what a badass you are for being a working mom. I also grew up with a SAHM who went back to work full-time once I was in middle school, and I can say, having both experiences, I never missed out. Hope your family has a great summer!
You are awesome. This comment just made my day. Thanks friend!!! xo
I too completely get it re: summers being SO hard when you’re working. For me, it got a LOT better when my kids starting going to sleepaway camp for a few weeks each summer. They LOVE it and I get a ton of work done while they’re gone. Total game changer.
Oh this is so good to know!!! I honestly cannot wait for our kids to have the sleep away camp experience!!!
I relate to this SO much as a working parent. A big change for me was the realization that it was harder on ME than the kids. The emotion I thought was guilt (my kids are missing me! I can’t give them what they want!) was actually my own longing to have summer fun with them (I’m missing out! Summer goes by so fast!!). Clarifying that feeling was helpful — I still have the longing (so much!!!), but I’ve let go of the guilt. And whenever I feel that pang, instead of immediately beating myself up for letting the kids down, I try to be tender with myself and just let myself feel a little sad. (And then promptly make a thousand plans for the weekend!!) Maybe it’s a subtle shift, but the more I’m able to center and honor my own feelings (even the bad ones), the more confident I feel as a mom. Also, I had a working mom and I never felt like I was missing out — my summers were about friends and outdoor adventure (no Moms allowed! Lol!)
I agree with others–your perspective as a working mom is one of the main things that keeps me following along! Thank you for letting us into your life. Also, you appear to be nailing it!
Wow. This is incredible advice. You’ve missed your calling as a therapist! Thank you so much for sharing!!!!!
From one working Mum to another, I feel you. My husband also works away for 3 weeks (and then home for 3 weeks) so I feel extra guilt as it’s just me 🙁 This year, the kids have 7 weeks Summer Holidays in Scotland, they had 2 at Spring, 2 in October and then 2 at Christmas and a few long weekends in there as well. I get about 5 weeks paid Annual Leave a year ( I appreciate this is very much a UK thing and I don’t think paid Annual Leave is such a big thing in the US) but unfortunately it doesn’t cover it all. Thankfully my daughter loves her Childminder and as long as the weather is good they can have lots of fun. On her last day of school we normally have a Fire Pit, toast marshmallows and stay up late but this year, we are actually jumping straight in the car and starting the first part of our holidays. I can’t wait.
You and Matt do an awesome job of having fun with your kids but also showing a great example of a 2 income family. Well done to both of you.
Thank you, Aileen!! I am so jealous of your 5 weeks leave!! That is amazing!!!! And you are truly super mama to handle those 3 weeks solo at a time!
I’m a SAHM, but I think it’s good for kids to see their parents working and having a career. They will appreciate how much you did for them while also holding down a career at the same time and wonder how you were able to do all that you did.
I hope you all have a great summer.
Thank you so much, Missy!! This means a lot!!!! Have the most wonderful summer!!!!
Thomas looks like he has grown a foot. 🙂 What a great idea for the end of school!!! You ROCK!
He totally sprouted this park year!!! And thank you, Sue!!! Have a wonderful summer!!
I have no idea how you do it all. I work full-time as well and have two kids. I read your blog for inspiration. I appreciate you saying work from home was not ideal and at times really hard! #truth Thanks for bringing us along for the ride!
Thank you so much for reading along and your sweet words. Have the best summer!!!
Echoing all of the other comments that your honesty around being a working mom is so refreshing! As a not-yet mom who is planning to work, I am constantly inspired by you and how you make the most of every moment – working and home life. Thank you for continuing to share with us! P.S. – I need that ice cream toppings bar in my life!
You are the best. Thank you so much. And you definitely need to treat yourself to an ice cream bar!!! 🙂
The working mama guilt is soooo much worse during the summer!!
YES! Totally!!!
No regrets! You are an awesome mom. You can’t possibly know how you would be if you were a SAHM. Maybe you’d be grouchy, less fulfilled, you’d feel financial stress. It takes all kinds of families to make the world go ’round!
Very good point! I love this!!! 🙂
Ummmm. . . I’m a SAHM and I just want you to know that you actually do way more fun stuff than I’ve ever thought about doing. Your kids will be amazed when they grow up and have kids and realize how much effort you put into everything. It will all come full circle and you will be on a pedestal for life 😉
Haha. Thanks friend! Have an amazing summer!!!
Reading from Australia and coming up to winter holidays here soon and as a working mum I am already feel the guilt! Her after care program was released and they have trips to wildlife parks, skateboard lessons, pasta making.
I know she’ll have a great time there, way better than if it was just us but it is still hard to not feel guilty. I listened to a podcast with a working mom and she said she stopped feeling guilty for missing things as it doesn’t serve anything. I am trying to do that. Why make myself feel bad about my choices. Thanks for sharing this, really resonated with me and a lot of people it seems!
Do you have any posts on how you manage your summer? How you schedule the camps etc? Logistics. You seem to be a wizard!
Thanks
Gilly x
That is SUCH a GREAT point!!! Thank you for sharing!!!
As for summer planning, I LIVE by spreadsheets and start the planning process as early as possible (usually in January when all of the camp start opening summer registration). If you need a spreadsheet template, you can find mine here: https://www.northcarolinacharm.com/2021/01/five-on-friday-108.html
Logistics are different almost every day. Usually Matt and I trade drop-offs/pick-ups but it varies depending on our work schedules each day. I hope it will be so much easier having both kids in the same camps all summer.
What a great way to kick off summer! And I had both parents work full time when I was a child. My brother and I would go to summer gym, which was just our local elementary school gym was open with counselors and we hung out every day 8-330. Sometimes we went to the pool, but mostly played in the gym all day or on the playground. And ya know, I didn’t know any different and we had a blast. I never resented my parents. And we didn’t even take vacations during the summer, my parents usually did that during the fall, or late spring, always around school breaks because destinations were less crowded. So no worries friend! Your kids will only remember how you made them feel. 🙂
I couldn’t love this more. Thank you so much for sharing!!!! Have the best summer, friend!
Make sure you hit up Boardwalk Billy’s on Sardis Rd North for those shrimp boils and steam pot buckets!! Great place for the kiddos too.
omg — how did I not know about this!?!?! AMAZING!!! We will definitely hit up this place!! Thank you!!!
Yasss girl! Big fan. And they have crab legs!! My 2 nieces ask to go there for their bday dinner every year, just to get crab legs. It’s a fun raw bar, over next to Toast in the Crownpoint/MORA area. Highly recommend the crab con queso too!
I can related to having to be a working mom during the summer time!! Hang in there!!
Ah LOVE this!!! Happy Summer special family x