The Summer That’s Slipping Away: When You’re Not Ready for the Next Chapter

💥 The Real-Life Mom Moment That’s Hitting Me Now

It’s the end of July.
Which means the countdown has quietly started.

Back-to-school ads are popping up.
Fall clothes are on display.
And every day that passes brings us closer to September.

As a teacher, this time of year has always made me anxious. But since becoming a mom?
It feels heavier.

Because the end of summer doesn’t just mean returning to work.
It means less time with her.

And this year, that ache runs even deeper.
She’s not just going back to preschool.
She’s starting pre-k—at our local public school.
Her first real, big-kid step into the world.
And I’m not ready.

🧠 What’s Really Going On (Under the Surface)

She’s my sidekick.
My little shadow.
My right-hand girl.

We do everything together.
Grocery trips, coffee runs, messy crafts, even errands we probably shouldn’t bring toddlers on.
She’s my wingman in the chaos of motherhood.
My anchor on the hard days.

And now she’s heading into a classroom with new faces, new routines, and no mommy by her side.

I know she’ll thrive… eventually.
It’s a great school. We’re lucky.
But just as much as she’ll struggle to adjust… I know I will too.

And the hardest part?
Trying to help her prepare for a transition I haven’t even figured out how to process myself.

✨ It’s not just about school.
It’s about change.
Letting go.
And learning how to support your child through something you’re not emotionally ready for.

📦 The Emotional Load I’ve Been Bottling Up

I’ve been shoving it down.
Telling myself to “stay present” and “not waste the summer by worrying.”
Because I know, if I live in the future, I’ll miss what’s right in front of me.

But the anxiety creeps in.
In the quiet moments.
During bath time.
On walks.
When I watch her do something that suddenly feels a little too grown up.

And the tears come.
Not big, dramatic ones. Just those hot, blink-and-you’ll-miss-them wells of emotion that catch me off guard.

Because I want to savor this summer.
But I’m scared.
And if I’m not careful, my fear becomes hers.

✅ What I’m Trying (Even If It’s Hard)

I don’t have all the answers.
I’m still figuring this out, moment by moment.
But here’s what I’m reminding myself (and maybe you need to hear it too):

● Be honest, but not heavy. “School’s coming soon, and that’s a big change. We’ll figure it out together.”
● Give us both grace. She might cry. I might too. That doesn’t mean we’re not ready. It means we care deeply.
● Make the most of now. More playdates. More giggles. More ice cream on random Tuesdays.
● Let her feel safe in my calm, so I have to work on creating calm even when I don’t feel it.

💬 Final Thought: When You’re the One Who Doesn’t Feel Ready

Motherhood is full of moments like this.
Transitions we know are coming but still feel gut-wrenching when they arrive.

And the hardest part?
Preparing your child for something you yourself are still grieving.

But that’s the bittersweet truth of parenting:
We raise them to grow.
Even when every part of us wants to hold on just a little longer.

So if you’re staring down a big change, feeling like your heart might split in two…
You’re not selfish.
You’re a mom who loves deeply.

And that love?
It’s what will carry you both through.

Even when the summer starts slipping away.