Winning summer one messy moment at a time
School’s been out since May 23rd.
Today – well it’s still May.
And I already have no idea what day it is (to prove, when writing this blog, I totally thought today was June 1st. It wasn’t until I did my last checks before publishing I realized today is actually May 31st).
Last summer? I was very pregnant with Cici. She was born August 2 — one week before Henry started first grade — which means I went straight from waddling through 110-degree days into newborn life, big-kid school routines, back-to-school prep, and figuring out how to keep a tiny human alive…all without dropping from heat exhaustion.
Fast forward to now, and we’re back in the heat (Vegas hit its first triple-digit day on May 30, naturally), except this time we’re juggling:
☀️ A Pokémon-obsessed 7-year-old
🍼 A crawling, teething baby
🙃 And my desperate attempt to remember what day of the week it is
Every day feels like a weekend. But not the brunch-and-nap, relaxing, recharge kind of weekend. No — this is the “popsicles melt faster than your patience and getting everyone dressed is a struggle” kind of weekend.
So this summer, I’m leaning into a realistic rhythm. One that works for my kids — and includes me and the husband, too.
Here’s what I’m leaning into:
• Daily outside time – Parks, splash pads, backyard hose-downs. If we’re sweating, we’re at least outside.
• Nap time = mama recharge – While Cici naps and Henry’s deep in Pokémon YouTube, I get at least a glorious hour to sip a diet coke, paint my nails, write a new post, work on the party biz, or scroll in peace.
• Mani Mondays (or whenever it happens) – My polish is now my calendar. Chip = new week.
• “Professor Mom” Pokémon sessions – I can now identify evolutions, type matchups, and which cards are “cool” or “trash.” I didn’t ask for this life, but I’m in it. Recently found a trading card location where kids can pick near a deck of Pokémon cards for free, meet up with other kids to trade/play and I (mom) can sit in A/C and not be professor Pokémon mom.
• Potty patrol is still very real – 7 years old and still busting out the last-minute potty dance like it’s performance art.
• Baby teething meltdowns – Cici’s working on those bottom two teeth, and she’s not shy about it. Drool, clinginess, and all the snuggles (and shrieks).
• And my secret weapon? A daily alarm that just says what day it is. Yes, I need that kind of help. Because if Alexa doesn’t announce “It’s Thursday,” I’ll genuinely might not know. Yes, I need that kind of help.
And while I’m holding down the fort most days, I want to give a little shoutout to my husband — who works so, so much. Even when he’s home for just a short window, those pockets of time matter. Whether it’s wrangling the bedtime routine, suggesting cereal for dinner so I don’t have to cook, or just making us all laugh at the end of a long, sticky day — he shows up in the moments that count.
It’s not a perfect plan. It’s not even a real schedule. It’s not fancy. It’s not flawless. But it might just keep me sane and know what day it is. A little rhythm to the chaos. A little me time carved between popsicles and Pokémon trivia. And a whole lot of grace.
So if you’re in this season too — chasing toddlers, being quizzed on Charizard stats, and wondering if it’s Tuesday or the 47th day of May — just know:
You are so not alone.
We’re doing it.
Teething, potty dancing, snack-fetching, and all.
And maybe — just maybe — we’ll get our nails painted while someone naps.
👉 Roll call: who else is in this beautiful, chaotic mess too? Drop a 🙋♀️ if you’re feeling the Blursday vibes! Check out the summer mom checklist below to make sure you are in the survival boat that is of summer.
