When you think of summer holidays, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s beach days, family picnics, or children laughing in the garden. But for many mums, summer often means being on duty non-stop. With schools closed and routines out the window, suddenly you’re not just “Mum,” you’re also activities coordinator, entertainer, referee, money pot, chauffeur, and cleaner — it’s all the usual stuff plus trying to keep them busy – AND little to no time for yourself.
And that’s exactly why taking a full week off from your children during the summer isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. I am day five into a week without my children and for the first two days I was a sloth. I felt uninspired, I wanted to hibernate and had no energy at all. Not joking. I felt really exhausted. It wasn’t until day three that I found a bit of energy and have been enjoying doing what I want, when I want, with no sense of urgency at all. I’ll give you a silly example. Usually when I take the dog on a walk, or go shopping, or return from a work thing I have the sense that I must get back, I need to get back, hurry, hurry, hurry. It has taken until now to drop this idea that I must rush! I am lucky that I have got this time to be on my own (at home) but my goodness ladies, it is essential to remove yourself from caring and sorting mode, to just ‘being’ mode. My kids are having a lovely time away, and I am loving that I have had nothing at all to do with it.
I have written a few more reasons why I KNOW it is absolutely vital that you take proper time off this summer.
A Day Isn’t Enough — You Need Time to Fully Switch Off
A quick afternoon break or even a night off is lovely, but it rarely offers enough space to truly unwind. It can take a day or two just to calm your nervous system and stop the mental checklist from running in the background. A full week away allows your mind and body to actually rest — without the constant background hum of “Muuuum?” every five minutes. A week without being asked one single question is the best.
You’ve Earned It — Many Times Over
By the time you hit your 40s, you’ve likely spent over a decade (or more) showing up for your children every day. That’s years of packed lunches, navigating tantrums, handling endless school admin, and doing the emotional labour of parenting. Taking one full week off isn’t indulgent — it’s proportionate. It’s a small return for the incredible, often invisible, work you’ve already done.
You’re Modelling Boundaries and Self-Respect
When your children see you take time for yourself, you’re teaching them that adults have needs too — and that it’s okay to honour them. Especially if you have older kids, this is a powerful way to model self-respect, healthy boundaries, and balance. It’s a lesson that will stay with them long after the summer ends.
It’s a Mental Reset — Not Just a Physical One
A full week off — whether it’s a solo retreat, a girls’ trip, a staycation, or simply staying at home whilst someone has the children — gives you mental clarity. Without the noise and demands of daily parenting, you reconnect with your own life, your own needs, your own rhythm. This is especially valuable in midlife, when so many women are rediscovering themselves beyond motherhood.
Everyone Benefits When You Are Rested
Let’s be honest — burnout doesn’t bring out the best in anyone. When you are rested, you’re more patient, more present, and more able to enjoy the good parts of parenting again. Time off allows you to reset emotionally and physically, so you’re not just surviving the summer — you’re experiencing it.
Ideas for a Full Week Off
- Stay at home and watch TV (send the kids – and partner if applicable – to their grandparents)
- Do some local sightseeing if you can be arsed
- Just hang out – you don’t need to do anything fancy
- Do a mani/pedi / facemask / dye your eyebrows and lashes / have a deep relaxing bath (I’ve done all of these)
- EXERCISE – honestly, your mind and body will thank you for it (walks, the gym, swimming – just move your body)
- SLEEP and REST – go to bed when you want and get up when you want
- Buy the food you want to eat
- Forget washing up if you can’t be bothered to do it (you can do it an hour before the kids come home!)
And remember, you don’t need to justify how you spend the time. The important thing is that it’s yours.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a mum over 40, you’ve spent years — possibly decades — making sure everyone else is okay. It’s time to make sure you’re okay too. Taking a full week off during the summer holidays is not selfishness, or laziness. It’s wisdom. It’s preservation. It’s a powerful reminder that you matter too.
So, consider this your permission slip: plan the week. Kick the family out. Book the place. Ask for help. And don’t look back. Your future self, and your family, will thank you for it.
Take care, and do what you want for a bit!
Lucy x
AKA Geriatric Mum
