15 Thoughts Every Stay-at-Home Mom Has During Summer Vacation

You'd think that 10 unscheduled weeks would be a stay-at-home mother's dream, but really, it can be closer to an unmitigated hell. Without school, sports, and clubs to break up the day, your time is devoted entirely to the care and entertainment of your children. Even if you have a million ideas for creative and inexpensive things to do, being a one-woman fun director can be trying even on a good day (and maddening on a bad one). If you've ever been a stay-at-home mom during the Summer, chances are you've had one (if not all) of these thoughts. I feel your pain.

01
"This Summer is going to be incredible!"
Giphy

"This Summer is going to be incredible!"

Think of all the fun activities you'll be able to do with the kids now that the weather's warmer. The pool! The beach! And you'll definitely be able to facilitate all of these trips on your own . . .

02
"I've got an ambitious plan, but I have plenty of time to get it all done."
ABC

"I've got an ambitious plan, but I have plenty of time to get it all done."

You come up with your Summer to-do list: finally teaching the tot to swim, getting sunscreen on the kids without a tantrum, not to mention all of the goals you have for yourself, like finally planting that vegetable garden.

03
"OK, I know I wished for these longer Summer days, but now they're starting to actually feel endless."
Giphy

"OK, I know I wished for these longer Summer days, but now they're starting to actually feel endless."

You start to will the sun to set earlier. How can there be so many hours to fill up in the day? Even though every day feels like a week, you have yet to get a single thing accomplished.

04
"Are my kids always this needy?"
ABC

"Are my kids always this needy?"

It's amazing how much more attention your kids need when there isn't a teacher, daycare provider, or soccer coach there to give you some relief during the day. The less energy you have, the more your kids seem to gain.

05
"How can I trick them into taking a few more naps during the day?"
Giphy

"How can I trick them into taking a few more naps during the day?"

It's fine if they watch TV all day long as long as it means they might actually sit still for more than a few minutes at a time. You have to keep restarting the book you're reading because you can't remember where you last left off.

06
"Oh, God, please don't get naked in public."
BBC

"Oh, God, please don't get naked in public."

I know, I know — it's really sunny and sticky, and you're hot. But please, for the love of God, don't take your clothes off, especially in public places.

07
"OK, new goal — let's make it through a day without someone needing a Band-Aid."
Starz

"OK, new goal — let's make it through a day without someone needing a Band-Aid."

You can't take your eyes off of them for more than a minute without one of them falling off a bike or tripping on the playground. Who would have thought you'd ever wish for the days when it was too cold to leave the house without 10 layers of padding on?

08
"How early is too early to start drinking?"
TV Land

"How early is too early to start drinking?"

Summertime is all about day drinking, right? Even though you're a mom, an afternoon Summer cocktail (or 7) won't hurt anyone. As long as you have the babysitter or grandparents watching the kids, of course.

09
"Day camp is a gift from the gods."
E!

"Day camp is a gift from the gods."

Summer camp for everyone! It may only give you relief for a few hours during the day, but you've never been so happy to leave your children in someone else's care.

10
"Alone time is a sanctified and not to be taken for granted."
Lifetime

"Alone time is a sanctified and not to be taken for granted."

Even those precious few minutes when you're sitting in the day camp pick-up line after an afternoon running errands are to be savored. Who knows the next time you'll be alone again?

11
"I can't remember the last time I spoke to an adult. Is that normal?"
CBS

"I can't remember the last time I spoke to an adult. Is that normal?"

You wonder when you'll reach your threshold for kiddie books and kiddie movies, if you haven't already. If you don't get some adult interaction soon, chances are you're going to lose it.

12
"I don't care how much it costs — I need you to watch my kids, stat!"
NBC

"I don't care how much it costs — I need you to watch my kids, stat!"

Chances are, your regular babysitter has her own set of ambitious Summer plans, and none of them involve wrangling your rug rats. You find yourself offering an hourly rate that almost contests the salary from your last job.

13
"There is power in numbers. Mothers, assemble!"
CBC

"There is power in numbers. Mothers, assemble!"

You call up all the other stay-at-home moms in your contacts, desperate to find solace in your own kind. Sure, it gives your kids a play date, but the reality is that you need that play date more than they do.

14
"So . . . what can I talk about that doesn't involve my kids?"
MTV

"So . . . what can I talk about that doesn't involve my kids?"

Even when you do get adult time, you find that you don't have anything to contribute other than the sunburn that kept your kid up crying all night. What are interests? Why can you suddenly not remember the name of a single book or celebrity?

15
"The minute I'm off mom duty, I'm going wild."
Giphy

"The minute I'm off mom duty, I'm going wild."

As soon as your partner, your babysitter, your family member, or really any responsible adult comes to your rescue, you know you're going to party like it's the first day of September. Is it time to go back to school yet?