For Working Moms, Summer Sparks an Overwhelming Guilt Trip

home insemination Kit

When summer rolls around, it can feel like a relentless reminder of how little time working parents get to enjoy with their kids. While some parents struggle to keep their children entertained through those long summer days, working moms often face a different kind of challenge—guilt.

With summer looking strikingly similar to the rest of the school year, minus a couple of real vacations, it’s easy to feel like your kids are missing out. Many working parents find themselves juggling full-time daycare or a patchwork of camps, all while counting down the days until school starts again.

In a candid piece for the Chicago Tribune, Jenna Marks articulates the frustrations many parents share at this time of year. “By mid-July, I realize that summer feels just like the school year, with us constantly racing from one obligation to another. (Camp! Work! Soccer practice! Grocery shopping! Piano lessons!) I swear it’ll be different each year, but it never is. My kids barely have a moment to say that classic childhood line: ‘I’m bored.’”

I can relate. Back when I was in a full-time office job, our summers mirrored this chaotic pattern. And even before the kids were school-aged and in year-round care, the only change during summer was swapping out winter jackets for swimsuits at daycare.

Jenna reflects on a family vacation where her kids finally experienced a glimpse of the summer she yearned for them to have. They played board games, spent endless hours outdoors, and enjoyed leisurely swimming sessions. That’s when the guilt hit hard.

“Somewhere along the way, I convinced myself that summer should be a carefree adventure,” she writes, recalling her own childhood when boredom was a common theme. I remember those lazy summer days too—waking up when I wanted, wandering outside, or simply relaxing at home. I thought that by working full-time, I was robbing my kids of the idyllic summer I once enjoyed.

But eventually, I came to a realization: that was a flawed perspective.

Now that I work from home, my kids are experiencing a summer that’s closer to that ideal I once envisioned. Yet, I can’t help but feel guilty for the summers they spent at various camps while I worked outside the home. But those summers were filled with incredible experiences. My son made friendship bracelets, learned how to swim, and sang catchy camp songs. While I felt guilty for dropping him off early each morning, he was having an absolute blast. The only one truly miserable was me.

Fast forward to today, where I cram my days off with activities to make sure we maximize our summer fun. Meanwhile, on my workdays, they’re “bored” and glued to the TV, while I battle a different kind of guilt.

But here’s the thing: the guilt doesn’t need to stick around. No matter the circumstances, kids will be just fine. They will create memories and have fun, whether it’s a busy day of outings or a quiet day spent while I’m typing away at my laptop. While I’m consumed with guilt, they’re simply focused on having a good time.

It’s high time I silenced that nagging voice in my head and embraced their carefree spirit.

This article was originally published on July 16, 2016.

For more engaging discussions, check out this insightful article on our blog about home insemination kits, or explore this resource for fertility insights. For further information on pregnancy, Hopkins Medicine’s Fertility Center is an excellent resource.