If you’ve ever found yourself staring down summer break wondering, “What are we supposed to do with the kids while we’re still working?” this episode is for you.
In this solo episode, Courtney unpacks one of the biggest logistical challenges working moms face every year: summer childcare. Because when school ends, the structure disappears…but your job doesn’t.
This conversation is especially for working moms and corporate professionals trying to balance childcare, work expectations, and family goals during the summer months.
And here's the truth: summer planning isn’t just about camps. It’s about designing a childcare strategy that supports your family’s capacity and priorities.
💡 Inside this episode, we explore…
- Why so many working moms default to “camp or bust” when planning summer childcare
- The hidden flexibility options many families overlook when planning summer coverage
- Why a nanny can sometimes cost the same as (or even less than) full-time summer camps
- How nanny shares and part-time childcare can dramatically reduce summer childcare costs
- The often-overlooked childcare benefit many corporate employees have through backup care programs
- Why staggering work-from-home days with a partner can sometimes solve the childcare gap
- The surprising logistical burden of daily camp drop-off and pick-up during the workday
- Why your family goals should determine your childcare strategy, not default expectations
- The developmental benefits camps can provide through independence and skill exposure
⚡ What planning summer childcare actually looks like
Courtney shares several practical options families can consider when designing their summer childcare plan. These are:
1. Camp-based childcare - A common option for school-aged kids that provides structure, social interaction, and exposure to new activities like sports, coding, engineering, or outdoor skills.
2. Nanny or in-home childcare - Often assumed to be more expensive but when multiple kids are involved, the math can sometimes work out similarly to camps. This can be...
...hiring a college student for the summer
...sharing a nanny with neighbors
...hiring part-time coverage for only part of the day
3. Corporate backup care benefits - Many employers offer subsidized backup childcare through services like Care.com.
4. Parent schedule coordination where some families stagger work-from-home days or use flexible schedules to cover part of the childcare week.
These approaches can dramatically reduce the number of paid childcare days required.
🧠 Key reframes to remember:
- Summer childcare planning isn’t just about logistics. It’s about aligning decisions with family goals
- Camps provide exposure to new skills and experiences that aren’t always available during the school year
- In-home care can sometimes provide greater flexibility than rigid camp schedules
- Independence-building experiences, like overnight camp, can be powerful for both kids and parents
- For many families, summer planning is about balancing children’s growth with parents’ capacity
At the end of the day, there’s no single “right” approach.
The goal is to design a summer plan that works for both your children and your ability to function as a working parent.
🔗 Resources mentioned in this episode:
• Follow Courtney Cecil on Instagram
• Learn more about The Life Management System and get 25% off Courtney's services using coupon LMSPOD25
If you’re navigating summer logistics right now and trying to figure out how to balance childcare, work, and family time, this episode will help you think through your options more intentionally.
Keywords:
summer childcare for working moms, summer camps vs nanny cost, working mom summer survival, childcare strategies for working parents, summer camp alternatives, nanny share childcare, corporate backup childcare benefits, working mom time management, working mom stress reduction, family planning summer childcare, Courtney Cecil, Life Management System podcast
