Well, here we are, mama. It’s summer again. The season of sunscreen battles, beach towel laundry, and kids who suddenly forget how to pour their own cereal… but somehow never forget how to ask for snacks every 12 minutes. And in the middle of all that chaos, you’re somehow expected to be the snack dispenser, schedule keeper, and full-time memory maker.
I’m in my 40s now, which means I’ve survived enough family summers to know that they’re rarely as peaceful as the Pinterest boards suggest. My backyard does not look like a magazine. Our idea of “poolside luxury” is a plastic kiddie pool half-deflated by mid-July. And yes, there are days I question my sanity before noon.
But here’s the wild part: I still love it. Because even with the chaos, the mess, and the endless snack crumbs, summer holds this slow kind of magic that creeps in when you least expect it. I crave these moments, the moments that make the lasting memories.
🍉 The Messy Magic of Summer
You don’t need an elaborate plan to make it magical. You really don’t.
The best memories come from the unpolished, unfiltered, half-lazy days that no one planned but somehow ended up being everything. The way the kids squeal when you turn on the hose. The quiet moments after dinner when the fireflies start blinking. The look your teen gives you when you catch them actually having fun—even if they won’t admit it.
Sometimes the magic looks like chaos. Other times it looks like everyone passed out at 2 p.m. in swimsuits on the living room floor with wet hair and popsicle stains. Either way—it counts. These are the Memory Makers.
👣 Start Where You Are
Don’t let the comparison trap steal your summer joy. Some families are off exploring Yellowstone. Others are in Italy. and That’s wonderful for them, But let me tell you—there is zero shame in staying local and still making your summer unforgettable.
We’ve done “staycations” that were more memorable than our beach trips. Why? Because we were present. We weren’t rushing through itineraries or trying to make everything perfect. We were just together.
Here are a few things we’ve done this summer that were cheap (or totally free) but left my heart full and my camera roll full like a true disney memory maker moment:
~ Driveway concerts with Bluetooth speakers and dance-offs
~ Playing cards by candlelight during a thunderstorm
~ Crazy Summer Haircuts – Think Mohawk Fades, Mullets, intense undercuts, more wavy and beach look
~ Temporary Hair Dye – This year we are working with Pink, Blue, and Red
No tickets. No pressure. Just time spent.
🧃 You Don’t Have to Do It All
Let me say this louder for the moms in the back, multitasking with one hand and scrolling with the other:
You don’t have to do it all.
You are not your child’s entertainment committee, cruise director, or camp counselor. It’s okay to let them be bored. That’s where imagination grows. It’s okay to say no. It’s okay to have a slow day. It’s okay to stay in your PJs and declare the whole house a “quiet zone” for two hours.
My kids have had some of their best ideas on days when I intentionally stepped back. (Not to mention, I got to drink a full cup of sweet tea while it was still cold. Imagine that.)
📸 Snap the Picture Anyway
You know those photos we take and think, “Ugh, I look tired” or “This house is a mess”? Take them anyway. One day you’ll look back and realize—that was the good stuff.
The baby fat on their cheeks, the sleepy eyes after a day in the sun, the dog sitting right in the middle of the chalk art. Real life. Real memories.
I recently found a photo from a few summers ago where my boys were crawling all over me, hair a mess, holding their leftover goldfish, face full of joy, while my daughter sang at the top of her lungs – pure chaos. At the time, I almost deleted it. Now? I love it. My very own personal memory maker.
📝 Create a Bucket List—But Keep It Real
Here’s one of my favorite summer tricks: make a family bucket list. Not the kind with 47 activities that need a travel agent and a backup credit card—but one that feels doable, personal, and fun.
Sit down with your kids (bonus points if snacks are involved), and ask:
“What’s one thing you’d love to do this summer that doesn’t cost a lot?”
You’ll be surprised by how simple their answers are. One of mine said, “Eat pancakes for dinner and watch a movie on the couch.” Done. Another wanted to build a fort and sleep in it. Done again (and yes, I found popcorn in the cushions for a week).
Write it all down—chalk it on a board, make a poster, or tape a list to the fridge. Then check things off one by one. It gives summer a little structure, and it gives the kids something to look forward to (other than asking for screen time).
Here’s the best part: Even if you only check off half the list, you’ve still made memories. And your kids won’t remember what didn’t happen—they’ll remember what did. Here are a few ideas:
~ Have a water balloon fight (Mom included)
~ Try a food no one has ever eaten before
~ Learn a TikTok dance together (and immediately regret it)
~ Take Pictures everyday. It doesn’t have to be a perfect snap, just a moment. Fill up your memory maker.
Let it be messy. Let it be fun. Let it be yours.
Full Bucket List Coming Soon…
💛 You’re Doing Better Than You Think
Here’s the truth, mama:
You may not feel like you’re doing enough.
You may feel stretched thin.
You may feel like the fun mom is hiding under the to-do list and the pile of damp beach towels.
But your kids? They see the effort.
They remember the small things.
They don’t care if it was a homemade meal or drive-thru chicken nuggets. they care that you sat next to them on the porch while they ate it.
We put so much pressure on ourselves to “make it count,” but sometimes the best way to do that is to stop trying so hard.
✨ Real Summer Memories Aren’t Always Pretty—But They’re Perfect ✨
Some summers are loud. Some are laid-back. Some are full of trips and camps and sleepovers. Some are slower, simpler, and smell like sunscreen and cheap popsicles.
All of them matter.
All of them hold memories.
So take a breath. Let the laundry wait. Leave the dishes in the sink a little longer. Step outside with your kids, even if it’s just to sit and sweat together.
Because you’re not just surviving the summer.
You’re building a little time capsule they’ll carry with them forever. You are the memory maker.
Be on the lookout for a complete summer bucket list guide 📝
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