FYI: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. It’s like finding spare change in the couch—small, but it adds up! Don’t worry, your price stays the same, and your support keeps me sharing all the tips, tricks, and treasures. Thanks for being awesome!
Every year when spring turns to summer, I have this moment—usually when I see a mom on Instagram posting their elaborate summer bucket list written in rainbow chalk—that I panic just a little. I start thinking, Should I be planning weekly zoo trips? Signing up for messy outdoor crafts? Should I have already bought matching swimsuits for the kids and coordinated a sunflower field photo shoot?
But then I look around—at the laundry pile, the work calendar, the toddler clinging to my leg—and remember: I’m not in a season of elaborate. I’m in a season of doing my best. As a working mom, my days are already full. Between work responsibilities, dinner duty, and trying to keep little humans alive and reasonably happy, the idea of doing more to “enjoy the season” sometimes feels like one more thing on an already overflowing to-do list.
If you’re anything like me, you want to enjoy these sweet spring and summer days. You want to give your kids memories and maybe feel a little bit of sunshine on your own skin while you’re at it. But you also have a job, a home, responsibilities, and very little free time.
But here’s the truth I keep coming back to: soaking up the season doesn’t have to mean going big. It doesn’t have to mean taking a week off work or filling your weekends with activities. It can be simple. It can fit into the life you already have.Soaking up the season doesn’t have to mean doing more. It just means noticing more.
Here are a few ideas I’ve found helpful—small, doable ways to enjoy the season without burning out.
1. Let Go of the Pressure (and Embrace the Small Stuff)
It’s easy to feel like you need to plan big memories to make the season “count.” But what if we gave ourselves permission to do less?
Sometimes soaking up the season means pausing for a minute to notice what’s already happening: warm sun on your skin as you walk to the mailbox, the smell of fresh-cut grass, the sound of your kids laughing while they play with the hose in the backyard.
Try making a short list of seasonal joys you can notice—not things to do, but things to enjoy:
- The way the light filters in through the curtains at bedtime.
- The sound of birds chirping in the morning.
- The taste of the first watermelon of the season.
When we shift our focus from doing more to noticing more, we start to see that the season is already here—we just get to enjoy it.
2. Take It Outside Whenever You Can
I know the idea of doing “more” feels overwhelming, so I try to just change the location of what we’re already doing. If we’re going to have a snack, we do it on a blanket in the yard. If I’m reading books, sometimes we grab a stack and read them on the porch swing. I’ve even taken my laptop outside to answer emails during nap time. The same tasks feel a little more peaceful with a breeze on your face and birds chirping in the background.
If the kids are cranky, I’ve learned that taking them outside can be a total game-changer. Bubbles, sidewalk chalk, water play—it doesn’t have to be a Pinterest-worthy setup. Sometimes I just hand them a cup and a bucket and let them “wash” toys or water the grass.
Bonus: when they’re outside, they tend to argue less. Or at least quieter.
3. Try One Simple Weekly Tradition
If planning something new every day feels overwhelming (and let’s be real—it is), try choosing just one small weekly tradition that fits your family’s rhythm. The goal isn’t to do more—it’s to build in something you can look forward to, something that signals, “Hey, it’s a special time of year.”
Traditions don’t have to be fancy to be meaningful. In fact, the simpler they are, the more likely they’ll stick. Choose something easy, repeatable, and low-pressure—something that works with your schedule, not against it. The magic is in the consistency, not the complexity.
Here are a few simple ideas:
- Friday night popsicles in the backyard or on the porch.
- Saturday morning family walks at a local park (or even just around the block).
- Sunday evening sidewalk chalk while dinner’s on the grill.
- Midweek after-dinner dance parties with your favorite playlist.
- Weekly “nature treasure hunt” walks where the kids look for bugs, flowers, or cool rocks.
Think of it as a seasonal anchor—something your kids can count on and you can actually maintain. When life feels chaotic, that one little ritual can ground your week and make this season feel just a little more joyful.
4. Let the Kids Pick the Magic
Sometimes, the best seasonal memories aren’t the ones we plan. They’re the ones that bubble up naturally—especially when we let our kids take the lead.
You could ask:
- “What do you love about summer?”
- “If we had 30 minutes outside together, what would you want to do?”
- “What sounds fun to do this weekend?”
Their answers might surprise you. It could be as simple as blowing bubbles, having a water balloon toss, or playing tag in the front yard. The beauty is that these are all free, low-effort, and likely more magical to your child than anything you’d come up with yourself.
Letting them lead the way takes pressure off you and creates space for spontaneous joy.
5. Build Seasonal Joy Into Everyday Tasks
One of my favorite mindset shifts is this: I don’t need to add more to my day to enjoy the season—I can just look for seasonal joy in what I’m already doing.
For example:
- Commuting to work? Crack the windows and play your favorite feel-good music.
- Making dinner? Use fresh seasonal produce or serve something cold and refreshing—maybe even take your plate outside to eat for a change of pace.
- Doing bedtime? Choose books that reflect the season or add a quick “what was your favorite part of today?” to the bedtime routine.
- Lunch break at work? Step outside and eat in the sunshine, even if it’s just for ten minutes.
Little shifts like these help us feel present without making life more complicated.
6. Capture the Moments—But Don’t Miss Them
When life gets busy, it’s easy to rush through the days and forget the little things that made them sweet. Taking time to capture those moments—whether through photos, journaling, or just a quick note on your phone—can help you feel more connected to the season.
That said, don’t let the pressure to document everything keep you from being in the moment. You don’t have to take a photo of every popsicle or sunset to make it count. Sometimes the best memories are the ones we hold in our hearts, not in our camera rolls.
A few ways to do this gently:
- Jot down one sentence a day about something that made you smile.
- Start a shared family photo album with your partner or kids—add one photo a week.
- Use a voice memo app to record a quick thought or funny quote from the day.
- Print a few seasonal snapshots at the end of summer to put on the fridge or in a journal.
These little practices help us slow down and see our lives as they’re happening—and that’s really what soaking up the season is all about.
7. Don’t Forget Yourself
This might be the hardest one for me. Because when you’re working, parenting, and doing all the life things, there’s not a lot of leftover time. But I’ve learned that soaking up the season doesn’t just mean doing things for your kids. It means making space for you to enjoy it, too.
That might look like:
- Sitting outside after the kids are in bed and journaling. Adding a few soft lights to our porch helped turn even a 10-minute evening sit into something that feels special.
- Picking up a new (or very old) book and reading one chapter at a time during lunch.
- Painting my toenails a bright summer color.
- Choosing a floral or fruity scent for my body wash that makes me feel like I’m in a summer commercial, even if I’m just racing to shower before the toddler bursts in.
It doesn’t have to be big. It just has to remind you: you’re still here. And you’re allowed to enjoy things, too.
Sometimes I whisper a little prayer while standing barefoot in the grass or watching the kids splash each other. “Thank you, God, for this tiny, messy, beautiful moment.” That’s all it takes to re-center me.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Do It All
If no one has told you lately—you’re doing a good job. Whether your summer looks like Pinterest boards or peanut butter sandwiches on a picnic blanket, it’s enough.
Your kids won’t remember every detail. But they will remember how it felt. And if it felt like a mom who noticed the sunshine and made space for joy—even in the middle of chaos—that’s something pretty special.
You don’t have to do it all to soak it all in. You just have to be here for it. A little at a time. In your own way.
So this season, I’m choosing to soak up the good stuff—slowly, simply, and sometimes with sticky popsicle fingers holding my hand.
Want to join me?
I’d love to know—what’s one small way you’re soaking up the season right now? Drop a comment below. Let’s encourage each other to find the joy right where we are.