Handling the Summer Blues

Michelle Nott discusses her mixed emotions about summertime. 

I pulled up in the car line on the last day of school with my summer music ready to go. But as soon as I got out of the car, I noticed my oldest daughter crying. She was sad that school was done and refused to get into the car to go home. It took a lot of convincing, but she was still sobbing as we drove away and asked not to play the fun summer songs I had picked out.  

I understand what she was feeling that day because I remember experiencing that ache of sadness growing up. I looked forward to summer because it meant I got to have a break from homework and could sleep in. But I also felt sad that I had to say goodbye to my friends who I interacted with every day and wouldn’t see them again for a few months. In a way, our whole world for the last school year changed. We’d be in a new classroom when we returned and be held to higher standards. It was exciting, yet terrifying. 

My Favorite Season  

I love summer. I don’t mind the heat as much as I mind the cold. Granted, I don’t live in the extreme South where temperatures consistently get over 100 and humidity is terrible, but we still have our fair share of hot summers here in the Midwest.  

I love the security summer provides for consistently having warm weather. I enjoy that we don’t need to bring those extra coats and jackets everywhere with us (just to the ice rink for hockey practice!). I also enjoy the beauty of nature around me and the opportunity to try and grow my own garden. The summertime is when I can feel God's presence just from stepping outside! If someone were to ask me what my favorite season is, I would probably say it is summer.  

But summers look a little different for my own family than when I was growing up. We don’t go on a lot of family trips with so many young kids, though summertime is usually when I try to go back East to visit my family. I do look forward to slowing down a bit over the summer if I can, though the kids’ activities keep us busy still.  

However, I still feel that slight ache during the summer as life changes around me. A chapter for the kids comes to a close as they finish out the school year in their current grade. Our daily routine changes.  

Summer can also be a more difficult season for my family due to my husband’s military career. The summertime is usually when he has his long field trainings that can last anywhere from two to four weeks. This results in us either taking a trip to visit my parents during this time without him so I can get some extra help, or in us staying at home and making the best of the situation. It can be hard to see posts on social media of other families who go on vacations together and use the summer months as a time for family bonding. 

Finding Joy  

But despite that hint of sadness, there is so much joy present. I think it is a great reminder to all of us moms that even in the best seasons of our motherhood, there can be moments of sadness or frustration. It is ok to feel sad that you don’t get to have the experiences that you hope for as long as you don’t get caught up in the depressed thoughts. Grieve as you need but then choose to find the joy in the opportunities presented to you.  

I still feel sad going into each summer break about the missed opportunities my family will have, and my kids will experience. But I’ve also had so many unique opportunities presented to my family because of the situation we are in. I love my trips out to visit my family, and the kids always look forward to them. They look forward to seeing their cousins again and staying up later than usual to play outside. We take trips to parks and go on lots of walks spent in nature. It is not what I would have chosen necessarily, but it’s what we are blessed with, and I’ll take it.  

And, of course, once my husband is home after his training, we do try to take opportunities to spend time together as a family.  

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Copyright 2025 Michelle Nott
Images: Canva