Summer Is Where the Memories Live

There’s something about summer that feels like possibility.
Maybe it’s the extra sunlight. Or the way school lets out and suddenly, the days stretch long and unstructured. Maybe it’s because summer feels a little closer to childhood—closer to what we used to hope life would be.

But when you’re a parent, summer carries a different weight. It’s not just about popsicles and pool days anymore. It’s about finding childcare. Juggling work. Keeping the fridge stocked. Navigating boredom, screen time, sibling fights, and the strange contradiction of feeling like you’re spending more time with your kids—but sometimes connecting less.

And let’s be honest: the idea of a “restful summer” can feel like a fantasy. Most of us are just trying to keep up.

Still, there’s something else that summer brings—something quieter, deeper, and incredibly important:

Time.

Unstructured, messy, imperfect time.
The kind of time that doesn’t fit neatly into a planner. The kind of time that invites spontaneity. The kind of time that, whether we realize it or not, has the potential to become the core memories our children carry with them for life.

Studies show that children often recall family vacations, summer rituals, and small, shared moments more vividly than anything else. Not because they were perfectly planned, but because those were the times they felt something strong: closeness, joy, surprise, connection.

Not every day needs to be magical. But some of the most lasting memories live in the “in-between.”
The car ride with the windows down and music too loud.
The messy picnic in the backyard that ended in laughter.
The late-night conversations about nothing, just because bedtime slipped away.

What kids remember isn’t the itinerary. It’s the emotion.
It’s how it felt to be together.

And what a gift, then, to remember that we don’t have to manufacture perfection to give them something meaningful. We can just show up—even when we're tired, even when plans fall apart, even when we’re not our best selves.

You don’t need a fancy trip to build a memory.
You don’t need to fill every day with activities.
You don’t need to hide your stress or pretend everything’s okay.

You just need to be there.

Even if it’s for five minutes of focused attention while they tell you about their drawing. Even if it’s a hug after a long, messy day. Even if it’s laughing together at a silly video. That is connection.

And if summer is feeling hard, you’re not alone. It is a lot—emotionally, financially, logistically. Many of us are parenting without a roadmap. Some of us never had a summer like this growing up, and we’re trying to offer our children something we never received ourselves.

There’s courage in that. And care. And hope.

So as you move through this season, let this be your reminder:

You don’t need to make summer perfect.
You just need to make it yours.

Let there be laughter. Let there be quiet. Let there be rest when you need it. Let there be presence when you can offer it. Let there be room for joy, even when it’s unexpected.

Because one day, your child might remember this summer—not for how much you did, but for how deeply they felt loved.

And you?
You’ll remember, too.

That this season wasn’t just about sunscreen and chaos and chasing snacks.
It was about us. Growing. Healing. Trying. Together.

And that’s more than enough.