I can’t do more, surely?
Supporting Yourself Over the Summer
Summer can be long. The structure of school falls away, routines get muddled, and the days, while full of potential, can stretch in unpredictable directions. If you're parenting a child who finds life tricky, summer can feel like you’re constantly firefighting while trying to make it all feel ‘fun’.
I recently shared some ideas about how to help your child notice and name their emotions. But I also know that feeling , the sense of more pressure being layered on, more things you’re meant to get right. So I wanted to jot down a few thoughts, in case you need to give yourself a bit of grace this summer.
First: if you're feeling tired, short-tempered, frazzled, or just done, you're not doing anything wrong. Parenting is relentless. And parenting a child with big emotions or complex needs? That’s another level entirely. So before you dive into another craft, calm-down jar or feelings chart, take a minute to check in with yourself. How are you feeling today?
One of the kindest things you can do over the summer is to build in tiny, do-able moments of support for yourself. Not in a forced “self-care” kind of way, but in a gentle, “what helps me feel more like me?” sort of way. That might mean:
Letting go of trying to make it magical, and just aiming for ‘good enough’.
Texting a friend who gets it — not for solutions, just to feel seen.
Sticking a Post-it on the fridge that says: “I’m doing better than I think I am.”
Five minutes of quiet while they’re on a screen — and not feeling guilty about it.
You don’t need to fix everything this summer. You don’t need to keep them entertained all day. You don’t need to be the world’s most patient parent. What you do need is compassion — for them, yes, but also for you.
As I wrote before, if you do want to focus on one skill for your child over the holidays, let it be this: noticing feelings is something everyone does, not just children. Let them hear you say, “I’m getting frustrated — I need a minute.” That’s real-life emotional regulation. And it’s powerful.
It’s okay to want a break. You’re allowed to feel stretched. You absolutely deserve support — not just in September, but right now, in the middle of the muddle.
Sending love to all — whether you’re deep in the muddle or just about keeping your head above water — with toddlers, teens or anything in between.
If you’re thinking ahead to September and wondering if a bit of support might help, drop me a message and we can have a chat.
I work with families and while I probably should have a neat little elevator pitch by now, the truth is it’s not always that simple. I coach children and young adults who are finding life tricky — maybe it’s low confidence, big feelings, or struggling to cope with the pressures of school or life after education. Together we work on understanding their brains, finding their voice, and building tools that help them feel more in control — from radars to neural pathways and everything in between.
I also coach adults — often women who are juggling a lot, sometimes parenting children with ADHD, sometimes newly diagnosed themselves, and sometimes just needing a space to pause and figure things out.
If any of this sounds familiar, feel free to get in touch. No pressure — just a conversation that might be the start of something helpful.
