5 Things I Want to Say to the Mom Silently Struggling with Summer

She sat on the back porch with a lukewarm coffee in her hand and a knot in her stomach.

The kids were already fighting inside, the breakfast dishes were still in the sink, and the “summer schedule” she had planned so intentionally just… wasn’t working. She was silently fuming but trying hard not to lose it. A tear might escape but not her voice.

The house felt loud. The pressure felt heavy. And though she loved her kids deeply, she was already counting down the hours to bedtime. And the days until the schedule changed.

Maybe you’ve been there too.

You want to make the most of summer.
You want to be present and peaceful.
But instead, you feel pulled, frayed, guilty… and honestly, tired of pretending everything’s fine.

If that’s you, I wrote this for you.

Here are five things I wish someone had told me when I was silently struggling:

1. Tell Someone

Not your whole Instagram feed. Not the whole mom group chat. But someone. A mentor, a fellow mom. But someone.

The enemy loves to isolate us in our struggles. He whispers, “You’re the only one who feels this way.” But you’re not. I promise! I believed the lie I was the only one for a long time. I’m here to tell you we all have these days, especially in the chaos of the summer.

Motherhood is beautiful, yes. But it’s also repetitive, sacrificial, and—let’s be honest—sometimes really lonely.

Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Tell a trusted friend. Confide in a mentor. Or just text someone and say, “I’m having a hard day today. Can you pray for me?”

Letting someone else into your struggle doesn’t make you weak. It makes you wise.

2. It’s Okay to Ask for Help (And Sometimes Even Pay for It)

You weren’t meant to do this alone.

Whether it’s asking your husband to handle bedtime so you can breathe, signing your kids up for a few hours of VBS, or texting your mom to come over while you get a coffee—you are allowed to need help.

But here’s the thing we don’t talk about enough: Getting help isn’t just okay—it’s wise. It’s strong. It’s strategic.

Sometimes, the most faith-filled thing you can do is say: “I can’t do all of this by myself. And I don’t have to.”

That might look like:

Hiring a sitter for a few hours a week so you can go to a coffee shop and recharge
Inviting a teen neighbor over to play with your kids while you tackle your emails
Paying for a house cleaner once a month to remove just one thing from your mental load
Or investing in a coach or mentor who can help you see above the noise

Even Jesus didn’t model constant independence. He surrounded Himself with people, leaned on others, and regularly stepped away to rest and reconnect with the Father.

Asking for help—yes, even paying for it—isn’t a sign you’re failing. It’s a sign you’re growing.

And it might just be the step that helps you move from barely surviving to fully rooted in your calling as a mom.

3. The Biggest Battle is in Your Mind

We often think the struggle is with our kids’ behavior. But if we’re honest? The biggest spiral starts in our own thought life.

That moment when your child whines again and the thought comes: “Why does he always ask me?”

Or when the day falls apart and you think: “I’m just not cut out for this.”

Our feelings follow our thoughts. And our actions follow our feelings. That’s why Romans 12:2 calls us to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

The problem isn’t just the mess or the noise—it’s what we believe about ourselves (and our children!) in the middle of it.

Start by noticing your thoughts. Write them down. Decide if they are helping you be the mom you want to be. Then name the lies and repent from those thoughts that keep you spiraling. And replace them with truth, God’s truth.

4. Sometimes You Have to Let Go to Move Forward

You had big dreams for this summer. Daily routines. Weekly outings. Morning devotions. Minimal screen time.

But if you’re white-knuckling your plan while losing your peace… maybe it’s time to let go.

Let go of the picture-perfect summer.

Let go of the mom you think you’re supposed to be.

And grab hold of the One who’s inviting you to something deeper. Ask Him what He wants for you this summer.

Jesus doesn’t need your summer to be polished. He wants you to be present.

Letting go doesn’t mean giving up—it means making space for God to work in the middle of the mess.

5. Experiment — Try Something Different

Summer often spirals when we feel stuck in routines that aren’t working. And sometimes just shaking things up can be exactly what your kids need, too, to get out of their ruts! So, here’s your permission slip: Try something new.

Do something silly like a dance-off or “marching band” with pretend instruments.
Add quiet rest time after lunch for everyone, even the big kids.
Go for an exploring hike/nature walk and play “I spy.”
Make screen time dependent on reading or outside play first.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. But it can be different.

One small shift might just change the entire atmosphere of your home.

Journal Prompt:

Mama, I know you’ve got a lot on your plate. And when the days are long and loud, pausing to journal might feel like the last thing you have time for. But here’s the truth:

You can’t reset what you haven’t first named.

Journaling is a powerful tool God can use to help you slow down, notice what’s happening inside, and hear from Him in the middle of it all. It’s not about having the perfect quiet time or writing pages of poetry. It’s about being honest—with yourself and with God.

If any of the 5 reminders above stirred something in you, take a few minutes to sit with these questions. Let them guide your heart as you invite the Holy Spirit into your summer reset: