Finding Your Summer Pace: Tips forWorking Parents in Bozeman
Ah, summer. The time of year when the sun is out longer, the weather is a bit more tolerable, and you can enjoy more of the outdoors Bozeman has to offer. However, summer is also when children are out of school. Cue the record scratch. Summer might look like endless pool days, ice cream, and playing outside until sunset. But for working parents? It’s a whole different story. Juggling work and family doesn’t take a vacation. The rhythm of drop-offs, childcare, and to-do lists still pulses beneath the surface—and for many parents, it pulses louder during these so-called “carefree” months.
Reality is, as a Bozeman parent, you're probably feeling anxious just thinking about the next few months. How do you balance work and taking care of your kids? What do you even do with them all day? And how do you make space for self-care so you don’t burn out? We’ve got you covered with tips to help you tackle summer and make it a win for you and your family. Plus, we’ll dive into how anxiety therapy can be a game-changer during this season. Let’s make this summer work for you!
The Summer Pressure Cooker: Why It Feels So Intense
Let’s start with this: summer in Montana is short. Like, blink-and-you-miss-it short. That’s part of what makes it so magical, and so intense. There’s pressure to make the most of every single sunny day, every hiking trail, every splash pad. For parents, that urgency can easily turn into overwhelm. You might feel torn between wanting to give your kids a “magical” summer and keeping up with your work responsibilities.
Add a little guilt (because you’re not at the lake on a Tuesday afternoon) and a little FOMO (because every other family seems to be doing more), and you’ve got a recipe for burnout. The truth is that you don’t need to do everything. You’re not failing your kids by not planning weekly excursions to Yellowstone or creating Pinterest-worthy crafts every afternoon. Some of the best childhood memories are made in backyard sprinklers and popsicles on the porch.
Communicate, Coordinate, and Let Some Things Go
When life feels like it’s moving too fast, the best thing you can do is slow your own pace first. There’s power in stepping back to notice what’s truly essential versus what’s just noise. Summer doesn’t have to be all or nothing, it can be intentional and spacious. That starts with clear, proactive conversations about what’s realistic, with your employer, your partner, and with yourself.
Communicate With Your Workplace
If you're working this summer, talk with your supervisor or team about flexibility. Can you adjust your hours slightly to accommodate summer camp pickups? Or, can you block out parts of your schedule so your brain isn’t split between a Zoom call and a toddler meltdown? These conversations don’t always feel easy—but they’re easier now than mid-July when you’re trying to work through exhaustion. The more you advocate for yourself ahead of time, the better.
Share the Load at Home
If you’re parenting with a partner, summer is the time to get honest about mental load. Who’s keeping track of sunscreen supplies? And who's coordinating camps or making the grocery list for extra snacks? A shared family calendar (like Google Calendar or a physical planner on the fridge) can make a huge difference. But what really matters is not just sharing logistics, it’s sharing the mental and emotional work that summer demands. Because let's face it, you're not just managing time. You're managing expectations, energy levels, and the mood of the household. It shouldn’t all fall on your shoulders.
Ditch the “Perfect Summer” Myth
Parent guilt is real. And in the summer, it often shows up as an invisible pressure to pack the season with nonstop enrichment: activities, trips, playdates, “experiences.” But the thing is that kids don’t need a perfect summer. They need presence. And they need a parent who isn't maxed out, snappy, or emotionally unavailable because they're trying to do it all.
Boredom isn’t bad. It’s actually where creativity lives. Give your kids space to rest, reset, and find joy in the slower moments. They can play in the yard. It's okay if they unwind with some screen time, without layering on shame. Give them permission to just be kids, and give yourself permission to stop chasing perfection, too.
Yes, You Still Need Therapy—Even in Summer
We get it. The sun is out. You feel a little lighter. Therapy might start to feel less urgent. You think, “Maybe I’ll just pause for a bit…” But what happens is that the calm doesn’t last forever. August hits. The back-to-school panic begins. And your therapist? Might not have openings. That rhythm you were building? Gone. And old patterns come rushing back in.
Therapy isn’t just about managing crisis. It’s about reinforcing the new thoughts, tools, and regulation strategies you’ve been working on. Especially during a high-demand season like summer. If your schedule shifts in the summer, talk with your therapist about adjusting your cadence. Maybe you go biweekly instead of weekly. But don’t disappear altogether. You deserve consistency, especially when everything else feels unpredictable.
Find a Bozeman Therapist who Specializes in Anxiety
Summer can throw a wrench into even the best-laid plans. Your usual structure is out the window. Why? Because your kids are suddenly home all day, and you’re doing your best to keep everyone fed, entertained, and emotionally supported. Not to mention while you're still trying to managing your own responsibilities. You love your children, deeply. But that doesn’t mean this isn’t hard. And feeling anxious about how to juggle it all doesn’t make you a bad parent, it makes you human.
If it feels like your anxiety has gotten louder this summer, or you’re counting the days until fall returns just to feel normal again, you’re not alone. This season can stretch even the most grounded of parents. That doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It just means your nervous system is signaling that it’s time for some support.
At Bozeman Counseling Center, We Offer Anxiety Therapy that Meets You Where You Are.
You don’t have to be in crisis to benefit from support. In fact, summer is an ideal time to establish (or re-establish) your mental health foundation so you're not scrambling in the fall. We also understand that therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. Maybe you need help managing the cognitive load of parenting, or maybe you’re just feeling disconnected from yourself. Our work is about helping you find clarity, calm, and confidence. Even when the schedule feels packed and your mind feels scattered.
You Don’t Have to Go Full Throttle to Enjoy Summer
You deserve a summer that doesn’t leave you feeling depleted. It's possible to give your kids joy without giving up your own peace. Instead of aiming for a calendar packed with plans, think about what small moments will actually feel meaningful. If your anxiety is high, your energy is low, or you’re just trying to make it through the next few months without snapping at your family, you’re not alone. Support exists, and it’s okay to reach for it.
Could Anxiety Therapy Help You Find Your Summer Balance?
Summer isn’t always easy. The longer days, shifting routines, and constant demands can leave you feeling stretched thin—even when you’re doing your best. If you’re overwhelmed, on edge, or just craving some space to breathe, anxiety therapy in Bozeman, MT can help.
At Bozeman Counseling Center, we offer therapy that fits your life—not one that adds to your mental load. Whether you're struggling with summer transitions, parenting pressure, or simply trying to keep up, we’re here to support you with compassion and clarity.
Schedule a consultation to see if anxiety therapy is a good fit
Learn more about how our therapists in Bozeman can help you feel more grounded
Start creating a rhythm that supports both your needs and your family’s.
Other Therapy Services at Bozeman Counseling Center
At Bozeman Counseling Center, we know that mental health doesn’t take a summer break, and neither do the many layers of your life. Maybe you’re juggling parenting and work, adjusting to new life transitions, or just trying to stay grounded through it all. Whatever you’re carrying, we’re here to support the full picture, not just the symptoms that show up on the surface.
In addition to anxiety therapy, we offer support for trauma, ADHD, and relationship concerns, as well as therapy for women navigating the demands of motherhood, career, and identity. We also provide counseling for college students, grief support, and parent coaching for those learning how to show up for their kids while still showing up for themselves.
You don’t have to wait until something “big” happens to start therapy. And you don’t need to have it all figured out. Wherever you are this summer—exhausted, hopeful, overwhelmed, or all of the above—we’re here to meet you with insight, compassion, and care.