Balancing Work and Home in the Chaos of Summer

Summer break used to mean pool days, popsicles, and sleeping in. But as a mom of six, a business owner, and the woman who runs the office side of our auto repair shop… summer now means juggling even more than usual.

While most families are planning vacations or lake days, I’m trying to figure out how to keep our kids busy, safe, and cared for while still running a business and keeping our life together. And honestly? It’s hard. Not impossible—but definitely not for the faint of heart.

A Family Full of Moving Parts

Let me paint a picture for you.

We’re a blended family with six kids. I have mine for ten days at a time, then they go to their dad’s for four days while he’s home from working on the road (he installs fiber). Bryan’s kids are with us every other weekend and then again on Wednesdays and Thursdays. And of course, little Sawyer is always with us. It’s a rotating door of backpacks, toothbrushes, and laundry piles, but it’s our rhythm.

Then there's the shop—our other baby. I manage the front end of our auto repair business: answering phones, scheduling appointments, creating invoices, and taking payments. I’m the first person customers talk to and usually the last person they deal with on their way out. Some days I’ve got a kid sitting at the front counter coloring while I talk someone through their brake repair. Other days, I’m taking calls in the carpool line.

It’s not glamorous, but it’s real.

When Is It Okay to Leave the Kids Home?

This is the question that lives rent-free in my brain every summer: At what age is it okay to leave them home alone?

We live in a very low-crime retirement community. Our neighborhood is quiet, and I have cameras covering every inch of our home. The kids know how to make their own lunch, use the microwave, call or text me if they need something. They’re not reckless or wild. They're really good kids.

And I’m lucky—I work just a few minutes away, so it’s not like I’m hours down the road if something were to happen. But still... the mom guilt creeps in. The “what-ifs” start stacking up like a mountain I can’t see past. What if someone gets hurt? What if they argue and it escalates? What if someone rings the doorbell and they panic?

It’s not that I don’t trust them—I do. I trust them more than I trust the world, and maybe that’s what makes it hard. My head tells me it’s okay, but my heart still worries.

We’ve had small steps of independence—letting them stay home while I run a quick errand, testing out short periods of time alone while I’m nearby. So far, it’s been fine. But making that leap into summer, when I’ll need to be away more consistently, is a little nerve-wracking.

Trying to Make It Work

I’ve been researching summer programs, hoping to find something local that gives them structure and gives me peace of mind. But where we live, in a retirement-heavy community, options are really limited. The youth center is a possibility, but even that has its own waitlists and gaps.

So like always, we’re making it work the best we can. That might look like:

• Bringing a kid (or three) to work with me when things are slower

• Assigning little “jobs” at home so they feel responsible and engaged

• Scheduling breaks in my workday to check in and FaceTime

• Keeping snacks stocked, routines loose but steady, and expectations clear

And sometimes, it means just trusting that we’ve raised them to be capable and careful—even when my brain wants to spiral.

The Reality of It All

There’s no perfect answer, and no “right” age across the board. Every child is different, every home is different, and every mom’s comfort level is different. But if you’re like me—trying to balance family, business, and your own peace of mind—just know you’re not alone.

Some days we crush it. Some days it’s survival mode. Some days I feel like Superwoman, and other days I feel like I’m letting everyone down. But through it all, the goal stays the same: keep them safe, keep the business running, and keep showing up with love—even when things are messy.

So here’s to the moms balancing it all—whether you're at home, at work, or somewhere in between. We might not have it all figured out, but we’re doing better than we think.