Every year as summer rolls in, so does the pressure. As a single mom of two young kids, I feel that pressure deep in my bones. I’m expected to create joy, keep structure, provide memories, and somehow still have patience and energy. And the perfect beach body. There’s no one else to pass the baton to, and on the hardest days, it feels impossible.

Somewhere along the way, we let the curated lives we scroll past on social media define our daily reality. “You only get so many summers—don’t mess it up.” This tagline embeds itself into a narrative that replays over and over, as the guilt covers me like a heavy blanket.

But this summer, I’m choosing to lay down the myth. To stop striving for a version of motherhood God never called me to. I’m choosing instead to rest in the truth that I am not doing this alone—God is with me, and He loves my children even more than I do.

That doesn’t mean it’ll be easy. It just means I don’t have to carry it all on my own. So if you’re facing a summer that feels heavier than it looks in everyone else’s highlight reels, you’re not alone. If you’re trying to get through one more bedtime routine without losing your mind—I see you. And more importantly, God sees you.

Here are a few things that have helped me move from overwhelmed to grounded:

1. Create a simple rhythm, not a rigid schedule.

2. Build in breaks for YOU.

3. Say yes to help, and no to guilt.

4. Lower expectations.

5. Keep a gratitude list.

6. Speak truth over your home.

Let’s take a breath together. This summer doesn’t have to be perfect to be memorable.