The May-June Juggle: Working Parents, School Chaos, & Why You’ll Miss This Someday

If you’re a working parent, you already know that May and June are not “spring.” In your world, they are survival season.

Between concerts, recitals, field days, sports playoffs, spirit weeks, graduations, teacher gifts, class parties, half-days, senior trips, school fundraisers, awards ceremonies, and somehow still managing your actual job responsibilities, these months can feel more like 5 years.

One minute you’re on a Zoom call discussing deadlines, the next minute you’re digging through a drawer looking for a green shirt because apparently today is “Tropical Jungle Spirit Day” and while social media often paints these months as magical and picture-perfect, the reality for many working parents is you’re exhausted.

You’re trying to be present for your children while also staying productive at work. You’re answering emails from the parking lot of baseball or dance practice. You’re squeezing in conference calls and  trying to remember if you signed the permission slip while also trying to remember your own password.

And yet, as chaotic as this season feels, I’m also trying to stop from spiraling and remember that one day, the calendar will suddenly be empty. My girls will be young women, and these activities will cease. I hear from my friends of older sons and daughters that the silence can feel deafening, and as impossible as it seems, they actually miss it.

The Emotional Whiplash of Parenting During School Activity Season

There’s something uniquely emotional about May and June. You’re proud, overwhelmed, sentimental, stressed, and grateful, sometimes all within the same hour.

Working parents often carry an invisible mental load during this time of year. It’s not simply attending activities, it’s coordinating schedules, organizing transportation, remembering details, handling work obligations, and trying not to let anyone down. Many parents feel guilty no matter what they do.

If you leave work early for the school play, you worry about work, and if you stay at work and miss an event, you worry about your child. That tug-of-war is real, but remember, your children do not need perfection, they need love, consistency, and presence whenever possible, and sometimes “presence” means showing up tired but still showing up.

Self-Care Isn’t Optional During Busy Parenting Seasons

One of the biggest mistakes working parents make during May and June is putting themselves dead last.

You tell yourself:“I’ll rest in the summer.”“I’ll work out later.”“I’ll relax after school ends.”

But if you don’t take care of yourself during busy seasons, burnout arrives quickly. The good news is that self-care does not need to be elaborate, it just needs to happen.

Move Your Body, Your Way

Exercise is one of the best stress relievers available, but it doesn’t have to mean running five miles before sunrise unless that genuinely makes you happy.

Movement can look like:

• A morning walk before the house wakes up

• Yoga in your living room

• Tai chi in the park

• Dancing in the kitchen

• A bike ride with your kids

• Stretching before bed

• Strength training

• A quick swim

• A workout class with a friend

  
  

The goal isn’t perfection, the goal is releasing stress, and giving your mind a break from the endless mental checklist. Even 20 minutes can completely shift your mood.

Reconnect with a Favorite Pastime

When life gets busy, adults often stop doing the very things that make them feel like themselves.

Reading. Gardening. Painting. Cooking. Photography. Music. Theater. Knitting. Writing. Golf. Pickleball. Watching old movies. Meeting a friend for a glass of wine or cup of coffee.

Whatever brings you joy, make space for it, not because it’s “productive,” but because it’s restorative. Parents spend so much time taking care of everyone else that they

sometimes forget they’re still people with interests and passions too.

Schedule Time with Your Partner or Friends

During hectic school months, relationships often move into “logistics mode.” Who’s picking up?Who’s driving?Who ordered the cupcakes?Did anyone sign the form?

Make intentional time to reconnect with your partner or a close friend, or you may find your relationship stretched very thin. Even something simple matters:

• Coffee together

• A walk after dinner

• One uninterrupted conversation

• A casual lunch

• A quick date night

• Sitting outside with a glass of wine after the kids go to sleep

• 
  

Connection helps refill your emotional tank, and if you’re a single parent, your friendships matter enormously. Don’t isolate yourself during stressful seasons.

Treat Yourself Without Guilt

Tiny pockets of joy and calm can make a tremendous difference.

Get the massage.

Buy the flowers.

Take the bath.

Book the manicure.

Sit quietly with your coffee before everyone wakes up.

Small moments of comfort are not selfish. They are maintenance.

Ask for Help

This one is hard for many parents, especially working parents who are used to handling everything. Delegate where possible:

• Carpool with another family

• Order dinner instead of cooking

• Let the laundry wait

• Ask older kids to help

• Hire help if your budget allows

• Say no to nonessential commitments

  
  

Sometimes protecting your sanity is the smartest thing you can do for your family.

Capture the Moments, Even the Imperfect Ones

Not every memory needs professional photos and coordinated outfits. Some of the moments you’ll treasure most are the messy, ordinary ones:

• Eating pizza in the car between activities

• Last-minute costume disasters

• Laughing during late-night homework sessions

• Watching your child scan the audience looking for you

• Celebrating small victories after a long day

  
  

These are the snapshots of real life and if you don’t believe me, take a look at my Instagram!

Remember that while you may feel exhausted now, one day you’ll look back and realize these hectic months were filled with love and milestones that passed far too quickly.

Final Thoughts for Working Parents

If May and June feel overwhelming right now, I feel you and heck, I am you! This season is demanding, and it stretches parents emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially.

One day the calendar won’t be overflowing with school activities and practices and the routines will change.

So yes, survive the chaos, but also pause long enough to soak in the moments, because years from now, you may not remember every stressful detail, but you will remember the concerts, games, recitals, car rides, trophies, and uniforms.

And you’ll wonder where the time went.