Our Low-Key Summer Schedule That’s Saving My Sanity (with a Toddler & Preschooler)
- brawnerb40
- Jun 17
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 20
Let me be really honest.
I thought this summer was going to be magical. After wrapping up my season of teaching and getting to bring my babies home full-time again, I pictured us doing chalk drawings on the sidewalk, slow mornings in pajamas, and maybe even a nap or two for me in the afternoons.
Instead?
I got cranky kids by 9 a.m. Overflowing laundry baskets. A phone I couldn’t stop picking up even though it never made me feel better and this overwhelming, creeping guilt that I should be doing more... but also that I was already doing too much.
That constant tug-of-war between wanting to be fully present, but also needing a breather… it wore me down fast.
The Mental Load No One Talks About
My husband works in the agriculture industry so when he’s working, he’s working. It’s not a 9 to 5. It’s not always predictable. And while he’s doing such important work, the truth is, I’m carrying most of the day-to-day at home on my own.
And that’s not me playing the victim. It’s just real life.
I’m the:
Snack-getter
Conflict mediator
Laundry switcher
Business builder
Cleaner
Teacher
And somehow… supposed to still be “fun mom”
And while I’m unbelievably grateful to be home with my babies, I’ll be the first to admit: it’s a lot. The days feel long and loud, and if I’m not mindful, I lose myself in them completely.
The phone scrolling starts. The dishes pile up. The overstimulation creeps in and makes me short-tempered. Then the guilt rolls in… and it all repeats.
What Finally Helped? A Simple Rhythm
One day, I realized what I needed wasn’t more time. It was more rhythm. More intention. Less reacting. So we created a low-key summer routine.
Nothing rigid. Just anchors in our day that helped all of us know what to expect—and gave me the space to breathe again.
🗓️ Our Actual Daily Rhythm:
Morning (7–10 a.m.) Wake-ups (they have a chart they follow) + breakfast Outside time (walk, sidewalk chalk, pick garden veggies) One small chore (kids help switch laundry or tidy toys) One learning activity (coloring, puzzle, printable). We also do our morning letter chart, talk about the weather, plus calendar. (I take my fizz + greens here—my lets get shit done drink while we get stuff done.)
Midday (10–1 p.m.) Snack & play inside with STEM bins. Lunch together quick clean-up.
Afternoon (1–3 p.m.) 2-year-old naps 4-year-old quiet time (a nap, books, STEM bins, or movie time) I work, rest, or reset.
Evening (3–7 p.m.) Snack + outdoor time Dinner prep and eat as a family Bath + bedtime routine (they have a chart to follow)
Our Summer Bucket List (No Pressure Attached)
We wrote it on a piece of paper and taped it to the window. It includes things like:
Make popsicles
Go to the library
Go for A Walk
Bake Cookies
A Yes Day
Finger Paint
Visit a Zoo (Hutchinson has a free zoo)
They’re not fancy. Most don’t cost a thing. But they feel intentional—like we’re choosing our days instead of surviving them.
What I’m Learning (and Unlearning)
I’m learning that:
Doing everything doesn't make you a better mom.
Constant noise and endless to-do’s without breaks will break you.
You can lead your home with peace and structure without being strict.
And the phone? It’s never the answer to the overwhelm.
If you’re in the thick of a loud summer season—trying to work, parent, manage a home, and breathe—please know you’re not alone. You’re not failing. You’re just carrying a lot.
You can reset your rhythm. You can change what’s not working. You don’t need permission. You just need a breath and a plan.
Want the printable version of our simple summer rhythm? I made a free template that’s easy to hang on the fridge or tuck into a planner.
Wishing you a calm(ish) but enjoyable rest of your summer!
-Bailey
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