We're handed a script that summer is supposed to be fun and relaxing, beach days and popsicles and bucket lists. Then the fantasy meets the reality of little kids off their routine, eating sugar, tracking sand everywhere, and a lot of moms find themselves feeling something they didn't expect: angry. Sterling Jaquith says that's not a sign you're doing it wrong. It's cognitive dissonance, and it's incredibly common.

This episode starts with a 30-second check-in you can do ten times a day, then unpacks why the gap between expectation and reality turns into anger, and what to do about it. Sterling walks through exactly how she thinks about her own Northern Idaho summers, lake days, outside time, and all, so she makes memories instead of yelling. And she hands you permission you may not know you needed: you don't have to do anything this summer.

WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE:

• The 30-second self-check-in (touch your skin, ask "how am I feeling?" and "what do I need?") and why most moms never do it
• Why summer creates a love-hate relationship, and the clash between the sparkly fantasy and the real thing
• Why anger is the surprisingly common summer emotion for moms, and the shame or fear sitting underneath it
• The one question to ask the second you feel frustrated: "What did I think should be happening?"
• Setting yourself up to win (the 40-minute lake math, the outside water and bathroom systems, deciding about the food ahead of time)
• Permission to do nothing this summer, and why "we're just hanging out" is a complete and good answer

EPISODE TIMELINE:

• [00:00] – The 30-second check-in: touch your skin, ask how you feel and what you need
• [03:00] – Why we all have a love-hate relationship with summer
• [07:00] – Anger as the summer emotion, and the fantasy-vs-reality clash underneath it
• [11:00] – "What did I think should happen?" and the 40-minute lake math
• [14:00] – Outside time, the water and bathroom systems, and managing your mind when they come back in
• [17:00] – You don't have to do anything this summer, and being kind to yourself

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Calm Catholic Kids (Summer of Kindness stories free now, Collections 4 and 5 coming soon): https://calmcatholickids.com

CONNECT WITH STERLING JAQUITH:

• Website: https://catholicmomcalm.com
• Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catholicmomcalm