The End of Summer and the Gift of Leisure

Laura Steiner reflects on the gift of leisure and how to overcome the cycle of work inherent in the life of a mother.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that going on a family vacation with little ones is not, in fact, a vacation at all. Often, it ends up simply being the same relentless routine of parenting, albeit in a different location, new stressors, disrupted sleep schedules, and meltdowns — and not just on the part of the children.   

There are ways to circumvent the perpetual cycle of “work” that family vacations bring, though. We recently went on a combined family vacation to Williamsburg, Virginia, with several very good friends and their little ones. Yes, during a sit-down dinner at a restaurant one evening, no more than two adults were able to finish their meals while the rest chased roaming toddlers, and more food probably ended up on the floor than in little stomachs.   

Yet, throughout the weekend there was still joy and time for reflection. We laughed, swapped birth stories, recounted harrowing tales of potty training and sleepless nights with toddlers and newborns, and we bore witness to one another’s messy, holy lives. That may be the gift of Catholic friendship in this season: fellow parents who understand that raising small children is sanctifying work, and who help you recognize God’s presence in the most mundane and frustrating of moments — especially when you feel like you’ve relived the same day over and over again, and the messes and subsequent chores seem like they’ll never end. During these times, we may yearn for leisure, a break or a getaway as a brief respite from our busy lives. And yet, true leisure is so much more than these fleeting opportunities. 

Leisure as a Foundation for Family Life 

The 20th-century German philosopher, Josef Pieper, in his seminal essay “Leisure: The Basis of Culture,” reminds us that true leisure is not simply the absence of work. It is not idleness. It is the capacity to be still, to receive, to delight in God’s goodness without the constant urge to be productive.   

In a world obsessed with doing, leisure invites us instead into being. It offers space for us to encounter God, our families, and ourselves without agenda. On our trip, we found small ways to carve out that space for just being:  

We incorporated liturgical prayer and worship  

We attended Mass together for the Solemnity of the Assumption at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. This anchored our vacation in the rhythm of the liturgical year and offered us the opportunity to receive God in the Eucharist, spiritually refreshing us for the days ahead.  

We created space for rest and companionship  

One afternoon, the dads took all the kids to wander through beautiful Colonial Williamsburg while the moms slipped away for four uninterrupted hours at the spa. The moms probably spent half the time thinking about all the things on our to-do lists and how our husbands and children were doing. And yet, the tranquility healed something in us. Afterwards, the moms enjoyed delightful conversation and reveled in this opportunity for relaxation and connection where we could just be us.  

In the evenings after the kids went to bed, the husbands gathered together to celebrate their friendship, laugh, connect, and reflect on how beautifully their lives have changed since their college days.  

We embraced silence when we could

When my toddler woke up two hours earlier than usual one morning, I actively resisted frustration and instead went for a quiet walk with her around Colonial Williamsburg and the campus of the College of William & Mary in the cool dawn air. I prayed the rosary and Morning Prayer while golden sunlight filtered through the trees and bestowed a soft glow on the verdant fields around us. I found myself struck by this unexpected opportunity for pure, receptive contemplation.  

It can be tempting to think that leisure requires the costs of travel or a spa day, but there are opportunities to incorporate true leisure in our everyday lives. We need leisure to grow in holiness.   

An Invitation for the Season Ahead 

As summer draws to a close and academic year routines begin, I reflect on Pieper’s reminder: leisure is not something we earn through work; it is something we receive. Instead of chasing rest as a reward for productivity and perfection, let us open ourselves to receive it in the small spaces where God quietly offers it.   

Parenthood doesn’t pause for vacations, but neither does God’s invitation to return to a deeper relationship with Him. When we weave prayer, friendship, and leisure into our lives at home, our families become fertile, sacred ground for forming saints.  

As we head into the fall, I invite you to contemplate: In what ways can you seek out small moments of leisure, however they look for your family? 

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Copyright 2025 Laura Taylor Steiner
Images: Canva