Good Inside with Dr. Becky

Perfect Summer? Let It Go.

It’s 10:00 AM. One kid’s crying over a melted popsicle, another is shouting about the remote, and you’re already wondering if it’s too soon for a second coffee. Sound familiar? In this episode, Dr. Becky dives into the chaotic, sticky, emotionally charged season that is summer parenting—and why it often feels so much harder than we imagined. We unpack the myth of the “magical summer,” the invisible jobs no one trained you for (Camp Director, Sibling Referee, Snack Machine, anyone?), and why you're not doing it wrong… you're just doing a lot. You’ll learn practical shifts—like how to anchor instead of fix, how to respond to snack-time meltdowns with steadiness, and why “I’m bored” isn’t a crisis but a chance to build resilience. Plus: why it’s okay to not create magic, and how presence beats perfection every time. You’re not failing summer. You’re just parenting in it. And you deserve support that feels good inside. Get the Good Inside App by Dr. Becky: https://bit.ly/4fSxbzk Follow Dr. Becky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbeckyatgoodinside Sign up for our weekly email, Good Insider: https://www.goodinside.com/newsletter For a full transcript of the episode, go to [goodinside.com/podcast](http://goodinside.com/podcast). As parents, the mental load is real—to-do lists, doctor’s appointments, sports practices, work events, birthday parties… Should I keep going? If your family is anything like mine, it can feel like there are a thousand things to remember and your brain is running on overdrive. What if I told you there's a way to bring a little more calm and clarity to your chaotic, always-changing family schedule? Meet Skylight Calendar. It’s a central, easy-to-see touchscreen with clear colors, so everyone in your family can stay in the loop. As someone obsessed with efficiency, it almost feels like magic how seamlessly it syncs with all of the calendars you're already using—Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, and more. I truly see this tool as your partner in sharing the mental load with your kids AND partner. And because life doesn't stop when you leave the house, Skylight offers a free companion app. You can add or update events, check off to-do lists, and stay in sync with your family no matter where you are. Another great feature: If you're not completely thrilled within 120 days, you can return it for a full refund. Ready to say goodbye to calendar chaos and hello to a more organized and connected family life? Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15-inch Calendars. Just go to [skylightcal.com/BECKY](http://skylightcal.com/BECKY) for $30 off. This offer expires December 31, 2025. Today’s episode is also brought to you by Sittercity. We talk a lot about support at Good Inside—emotional support, community, not having to figure out parenting on your own. Sometimes, you also need logistical support. Like, someone to watch your kid so you can make that meeting, run those errands, or finally catch up with a friend. That’s where Sittercity can be a really helpful tool. Their platform gives you a trusted way to find sitters who are kind, experienced, and show up when you need them. You can read reviews from other parents, message sitters directly, and set up interviews—all in one spot. If you’ve been meaning to find a sitter but didn’t know where to begin, this is going to make it feel a whole lot easier. Go to Sittercity.com and use the code “goodinside" for 25% off the annual or quarterly premium subscription plans. Today’s episode is also brought to you by Great Wolf Lodge. As a mom of three kids, I’m always on the lookout for family adventures that offer something for everyone (including myself!). That’s why Great Wolf Lodge is high on our list of future destinations! They offer a world of fun, all under one roof, including water slides, a lazy river, a massive wave pool, arcade games, mini golf and nightly dance parties! With 23 locations all across North America, and more on the way, chances are there’s a Great Wolf Lodge just a short drive away from you. You can save up to 40% off on any stay at Great Wolf Lodge from now through August 31st when you book at participating lodges. Just visit [GreatWolf.com](http://greatwolf.com/) and enter the promo code “GoodInside” – when you book.

Dr. Beckyhost

Jun 3, 202528mWatch on YouTube ↗

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Release perfect-summer pressure by quitting extra parenting “jobs” now

Summer often feels harder than the school year because the loss of structure increases stress for both parents and kids.
The “perfect summer” myth creates a painful mismatch between expectations (rest, memories) and reality (chaos, whining, conflict).
Parents commonly take on extra seasonal jobs—camp/cruise director, sibling referee, and snack machine—that breed resentment and crowd out sturdy, connected parenting.
Planned “Boredom Blocks” help kids develop creativity, independence, and flexibility, even though the short-term payoff is more whining.
Stepping back from fairness-policing and constant snacking builds kids’ problem-solving and self-regulation while reducing parental burnout.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Summer isn’t a break; it’s a structure vacuum.

School supplies routine, peers, and predictability; when it disappears, parents and kids often feel more unmoored, which amplifies reactivity and conflict.

Name the expectation–reality gap to reduce shame.

If “make memories” culture clashes with your internal goal of “make it to bedtime,” that mismatch is common—not a sign you’re failing.

Quit being the Cruise Director by scheduling boredom on purpose.

Boredom is the on-ramp to creativity, independence, and flexibility; creating “Boredom Blocks” makes space for kids to invent play instead of expecting constant parent-produced fun.

Reinterpret whining as a cost of growth, not a cue to fix.

Kids won’t thank you for boredom in the moment; the immediate feedback is often complaints, but the longer-term payoff is new skills and self-directed activity.

Stop adjudicating fairness to reduce sibling rivalry.

When parents enforce exact equality and decide who’s right, kids learn to monitor siblings for discrepancies and escalate to “make it even,” which fuels more conflict.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

When you are traveling with kids, you are not going on a vacation. You are just doing the same thing you always do in a more inconvenient location, and you're spending a lot of money doing it, right?

— Dr. Becky

In summer the world tells us to make memories, and you and I, we're thinking, "I just wanna make it till bedtime."

— Dr. Becky

Boredom is the feeling all of us have before creativity, independence, and flexibility.

— Dr. Becky

It is not my job to make my kids not bored.

— Dr. Becky

Making things fair for your kid, determining who was right for your kids only makes sibling rivalry worse.

— Dr. Becky

Myth of the perfect summer vs lived realityStructure and routine as stress reducers“Cruise/Camp Director” role and memory-making pressureBoredom Blocks and creativity development“Sibling Referee” and the fairness trap“Snack machine” dynamics: hunger vs dysregulation/boredomResigning extra roles to protect core parenting capacity

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