Summer holidays — for some, they conjure images of beach days, family outings, and a slower pace of life. But for many of us who are neurodivergent, running a business, and parenting neurodivergent children, summer can feel more like a logistical obstacle course than a relaxing season. This summer is especially poignant to us as a family because it's my eldest's last "little boy summer" before he goes up to secondary school in September!
I love my children fiercely. I love my work. And I also love pockets of quiet, a sense of structure, and knowing when I might next be able to finish a thought without being interrupted. Summer, unfortunately, doesn’t always provide those luxuries.
The Summer Shuffle: What It Actually Looks Like
In our house, summer means two neurodivergent kids with differing support needs, routines upended, sensory overload in full swing, and more emotional co-regulation moments than I can count. Add to that my own sensory and executive function challenges, and the demands of running a business, and you’ve got a perfect storm of competing needs.
I live with my husband, who is incredibly hands-on and supportive — he takes on a huge share of the childcare over the summer, which I’m endlessly grateful for. But it also means he reduces his ability to earn, and like many families, that financial juggle is very real. We’re always working out who can do what, when — not just to keep the plates spinning, but to make sure no one burns out along the way.
The Challenges
Let’s be honest — summer is hard. Here are some of the challenges we (and maybe you) face:
- No consistent routine – which is tough for all of us, especially the kids.
- Increased sensory demands – outings, heat, noise, unpredictability.
- Reduced working time – squeezing client calls into down time and between planned trips and activities (I'm forgoing an actual holiday this year), replying to emails at midnight, or postponing projects altogether.
- Mum guilt – when I’m working, I feel like I should be more present with the kids. When I’m with the kids, I’m worrying about the work piling up.
- Mental load overload – managing everyone’s needs, activities, meltdowns, meals, and emotional wellbeing while trying to meet professional obligations. There is no transition between "Boss" and "Mum" a lot of the time!
- Financial pressure – juggling income needs with the cost of childcare, activities, and the impact of one parent taking a step back to manage the home front.
But It’s Not All Bad…
It would be easy to let the overwhelm win, but I’ve also found some surprising positives over the years:
- Flexible work life – Being self-employed means I can shift my hours. I often work fewer but longer days during the holidays, or schedule sessions for the evening where possible so I can be present to do things with the kids in the day. It’s not ideal, but it’s mine to manage.
- Perspective – Slowing down (or being forced to) sometimes allows space for creativity to spark. It’s not unusual for a new service idea or blog post (like this one!) to bubble up in the chaos.
- Time together – The moments of connection, laughter, and unexpected joy with my kids remind me why I’ve structured my life the way I have.
- Modeling balance – My children get to see me work, rest, and adjust when things get tricky — I hope that’s teaching them something valuable about being human.
What Helps Me Stay (Mostly) Sane
This isn’t a list of “top tips for the perfect summer” — I don’t believe in perfect. But here’s what I lean on:
- Visual planning – Everyone in the house benefits from knowing what’s happening next. We have printed, laminated colour-coded charts as well as me having my own digital (and physical!) colour coded diary.
- Realistic expectations – Some things won’t get done. Some projects will wait. Some days are just about survival.
- Divide and delegate – My husband and I check in often to re-divide tasks based on who’s coping best that day.
- Creative work pockets – I don’t try to stick to my normal work hours. Instead, I grab bursts of focused work when the stars align.
- Permission to say no – To social events, to extra clients, to guilt. This is not the season for overcommitting.
Final Thoughts
If you’re also navigating the summer as a neurodivergent parent, business owner, or carer — I see you.
It’s okay if it’s messy.
It’s okay if the balance isn’t perfect.
It’s okay if you’re just doing your best.
And if you’ve built a life where your family comes first and your work fits around that — even if it’s not always easy — then maybe you’re doing a whole lot better than you give yourself credit for.