How This Busy Mom Prepares for the End of the School Year Without Losing Her Mind

It’s happening again. The calendar is filling up with class parties, field trips, concerts, awards ceremonies, teacher gifts, spirit days (why so many spirit days?), and the slow unraveling of the routine I’ve clung to all year.

The end of the school year feels like someone took December-level busyness, removed the twinkle lights, and replaced the magic with permission slips and sticky lunch boxes. But after a few chaotic Junes, I’ve found a rhythm that helps me prepare without totally burning out.

Here’s how I survive the end-of-school-year madness—and actually enjoy it.

1. Start the Countdown (Early)

I don’t mean a Pinterest-worthy countdown calendar. I’m talking about a mental checklist and a planner—my two survival tools. Around mid-May, I take 20 minutes to sit down with:

• The school calendar

• My personal calendar

• A strong cup of coffee (or two) 

This way, I'm not surprised by Pajama Day showing up on a random Wednesday like a ninja.

2. Get the School Teacher Gifts Done—Now

Every year, I tell myself I’ll be the mom who gets personalized mugs with cute quotes and handwritten thank-you letters from each kid.And every year, I end up panic-ordering Starbucks gift cards the night before the last day.

So now, I do this one early. I keep it simple:

• A handwritten note from the kids

• A small gift card

• Maybe some treats or a plant if I’m feeling ambitious

Done and out of my brain.

3. Embrace the Pile-Up

The end of the year is the season of stuff—papers, art projects, broken crayons, random notebooks filled with... doodles? I used to try to sort everything immediately.

Now I keep a large plastic bin labeled “End-of-Year Dump Zone” in the corner of the playroom. Everything goes in there. I deal with it later. 

4. Prep for the Summer Shift

As the school year winds down, I start to mentally (and logistically) prepare for the shift into summer:

• Update the chore chart

• Stock up on snacks

• Order swimwear and sunscreen before it sells out

• Research camps or activities if I haven’t already

The smoother the transition, the less likely I am to spiral the first week of summer break when everyone's bored at 9 a.m.

5. Lower the Bar, Raise the Fun

There’s a lot happening in those last few weeks, and it’s easy to feel like you’re failing at all of it. Let me remind you (and myself): You don’t have to do it all perfectly.

Skip the photo-worthy lunch if you need to. Buy the store cupcakes for the class party. Let the end-of-year burnout show a little—it’s fine.

What matters is showing up. Laughing at the chaos. And letting your kids see you handle it with grace (or, realistically, some grace and a large iced coffee).

Soak It In (Even the Crazy Parts)

As wild as this time of year is, it’s also kind of beautiful. It’s a finish line. A celebration. A reminder that you did it—you got through another school year.

There will be messy backpacks and sugar crashes and forgotten library books. But there will also be proud smiles, last-day hugs, and that sweet taste of summer freedom just around the corner.

So take a deep breath, fellow busy moms. We’ve got this. (And if not, there's always Target drive-up and a backup granola bar in your purse.)

Keep Shining!

Sasha Campbell