As the summer days unfold, working mothers often find themselves grappling with an overwhelming sense of guilt. While some parents struggle to keep their kids entertained during the long, sun-soaked days, others face a different dilemma. The challenge for many working moms during this season is not just managing schedules, but dealing with the nagging feeling that they are somehow shortchanging their children.
When summer feels almost identical to the school year—aside from a week or two of vacation—it’s easy to believe that you’re neglecting your kids. Many working parents resort to full-time childcare or a patchwork of summer camps to fill the weeks until school resumes. In a poignant piece for a prominent publication, Dr. Lisa Carter expresses this sentiment, stating, “By mid-summer, I realize that our days are just as hectic as during the school year. (Camp! Work! Soccer practice! Grocery shopping!) Each year, I vow to make it different, but somehow, it never changes enough. My kids don’t even get a chance to say the classic childhood line: ‘I’m bored.’”
I can relate. In my previous office job, summers felt like a relentless cycle of drop-offs and pick-ups, with little time for spontaneity. Even before my children were school-aged, the only notable change in our routine was swapping out snow gear for swimsuits at daycare.
Dr. Carter recalls how, during their family vacation, her children enjoyed a week filled with what she believed summer should embody—board games, outdoor play, and ample swimming time. However, this only intensified her guilt. “Somewhere along the way, I absorbed the idea that summer should resemble my own childhood, where boredom was the norm,” she reflects.
Like Dr. Carter, I cherish my own memories of unstructured summer days spent lounging at home. I would wake up leisurely and follow my whims—whether that meant playing outside, diving into a book, or hanging out at the local pool. I too convinced myself that this was the ideal summer experience for children and, by working full-time, I was depriving my kids of that joy. Eventually, I realized that this perspective was misguided.
Now that I work from home, my children’s summers are closer to the idyllic vision I once had. Yet, I can’t shake the guilt I felt when they attended various camps while I worked outside the home. My daughter thrived at her day camp, learning to create friendship bracelets, mastering the backstroke, and singing camp songs—despite my feelings of remorse each morning as I dropped her off.
Fast forward to today, and I find myself trying to fill my days off with as much activity as possible, worried that on workdays, my kids are stuck being “bored” in front of the TV while I type away on my laptop. The guilt continues, but it doesn’t have to. Research shows that children adapt and find joy in various experiences, and they will create lasting memories regardless of whether we are present for every moment.
It’s high time I silence that critical voice in my head and focus on my children’s happiness, which is driven by their pursuit of fun.
For more insights on home insemination and parenting, be sure to check out one of our other blog posts on advertiser disclosure. If you’re interested in at-home insemination options, this fertility kit is a great resource, and you can find helpful information about success rates at WebMD.
In summary, working mothers face unique challenges during summer, often burdened by guilt over perceived shortcomings in their parenting. However, it’s essential to recognize that children can flourish in various environments and create memories regardless of whether their summer days are filled with structured activities or unplanned fun.