The Long Game of Parenting with Sherri Seligson is about building relationships today that will matter for decades to come.
In a culture that celebrates achievement, busyness, and keeping up with everyone else, it is easy to lose sight of what matters most. Parents spend countless hours helping children succeed in school, sports, activities, and hobbies. While those things have value, they are not the foundation of a strong family.
The foundation is relationships.
That is why a summertime slowdown can be one of the most valuable gifts you give your family.
Building the Family You Want Later with Sherri Seligson
"Years from now, your children may not remember every activity they participated in. But they will remember how it felt to belong." ~Connie Albers
Family Culture Matters
Every family is building a family culture whether they realize it or not.
Family culture is created through the habits, values, traditions, and relationships that shape life inside the home. It influences how family members communicate, solve problems, celebrate milestones, and support one another through challenges.
The good news is that family culture is not built through perfection. Instead, it is built through ordinary moments repeated over time.
Family dinners.
Conversations in the car.
Weekend adventures.
Shared responsibilities.
Laughter around the table.
These seemingly small moments help create a family culture that children carry with them into adulthood.
Sibling Friendship Is Worth Investing In
One of the greatest long-term benefits of a healthy family culture is sibling friendship.
When siblings learn to enjoy one another, support one another, and work through conflict, they develop relationships that can last a lifetime. While parents cannot force friendship, they can create opportunities for connection. And over time those connections build a friendship.
Summer often provides the time and space needed for siblings to build stronger relationships. This can happen when they play togegether and solve problems together. Each encounter creates memories that strengthen their bond.
Over time, these experiences help transform siblings from simply sharing a home into sharing a meaningful relationship.
Not every day will be peaceful, and not every disagreement is a problem. Learning to navigate differences is part of how sibling friendship grows.
The Value of a Summertime Slowdown
Many families enter summer feeling exhausted.
After months of schedules, commitments, deadlines, and activities, children and parents alike need time to recover.
A summertime slowdown allows families to reconnect without the constant pressure of performance. This does not mean doing nothing. It means creating margin.
Time for conversations to happen organically.
Opportuniities for creating new family traditions.
Margin for spontaneous adventures.
A place for relationships to deepen.
Sometimes the most important growth happens when life slows down enough for people to simply enjoy being together.
Looking Beyond the School Years
The parenting years move quickly.
One day you are teaching your child to tie their shoes. Before you know it, they are preparing to launch into adulthood.
That is why it helps to keep the end in mind.
Years from now, your children may not remember every lesson, activity, or accomplishment. However, they will remember the family culture you created. They will remember whether home felt safe, connected, and enjoyable.
The long game of parenting is not about doing everything perfectly. It is about building relationships that stand the test of time.
This summer, consider how a simple summertime slowdown, intentional family culture, and opportunities for sibling friendship might help you build the kind of family relationships that last long after the school years are over.
About, References, and Links
Sherri Seligson, M.Ed., is a marine biologist, middle/high school science curriculum author, and apologist. She also produces instructional video courses taking students around the world to see God’s fingerprints in science. An international conference speaker, Sherri also loves to encourage women and mothers – she considered motherhood a promotion from marine biologist!
June hits, and suddenly the calendar goes quiet, and somehow that feels more overwhelming than when it was full.
If you’re a mom staring at a blank summer, wondering how to do it all (the catching up, the connecting, the memories, the chores, the growth), this is for you.
Here are the summer parenting tips I wish someone had handed me: a permission slip and a plan, wrapped into one.
Mama, breathe.
Summer can be a gift.
It can be a chance to slow down, reconnect, and notice what your family actually needs, not what the highlight reels say it should need.
The school year asks everything from families: lessons, schedules, activities, decisions, emotions, and expectations that never seem to stop. By the time June arrives, most moms are already carrying an invisible list of everything they think they should do next.
Before you rush into another plan, pause.
Your children may not need more pressure. They may need rest.
Your home may not need an overhaul. It may need a simple rhythm.
And you may not need to fix everything. You may need permission to focus on what matters most.
So as summer begins, let’s talk about four summer parenting tips that can change everything.
What Every Parent Needs to Hear Before Summer Begins
Your Kids Don’t Need More; They Need to Rest
Children are not machines.
That sounds simple, but we forget it. During the school year, children are often expected to produce, perform, answer, complete, improve, and keep up. They move from one assignment to the next, one activity to the next, one expectation to the next. And I have found this to be true even among homeschool families.
The Bible reminds us: “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28
God knew we would need this reminder. Summer might just be His way of offering it.
Children need time when they are not being graded, measured, corrected, or rushed. They need time to sleep longer, move more slowly, think freely, and let their minds wander.
Sometimes what looks like laziness is really recovery. And what looks like boredom can be the beginning of creativity. Sometimes what looks like “doing nothing” is a child finally having room to breathe.
We live in a culture that praises constant output. Even childhood can start to feel like a résumé-building project. But childhood was never meant to be one long performance.
Children need time to play, wonder, explore, read, create, laugh, and just be. That kind of time is not wasted. It helps them grow.
So before you fill every open space on the summer calendar, ask yourself: Does my child need more output, or does my child need recovery?
That question alone can change the way you enter summer.
The Summer Schedule Tip That Actually Works: Rhythm Over Pressure
Rest does not mean chaos.
Most families still need some structure. Children do better when they know what to expect. A simple rhythm can help the home feel peaceful and steady.
But there is a big difference between rhythm and pressure.
Pressure says, “We have to make every day count.”
Rhythm says, “Here is how our days will flow.”
Pressure makes everyone tense. Rhythm gives everyone something to hold on to.
You do not need a perfect summer schedule. You do not need every hour planned. A simple summer rhythm might include a few steady anchors:
Morning chores
Reading time
Outdoor time
Quiet time after lunch
Family dinner
A weekly library trip
One simple outing
Time with friends
That is enough.
The goal is not to recreate school in a summer format. The goal is to give your children enough structure to feel secure and enough freedom to grow.
Think in terms of anchors, not a rigid schedule. Maybe your anchor is reading after breakfast or taking a walk in the evening. Perhaps it’s cooking together on Fridays.
Simple is not weak. Simple is often what helps families breathe again.
Summer Is Your Invitation to Reconnect With Your Child
This is the part I don’t want you to miss.
Summer is not just a break from school. It is a chance to notice your child again.
During the school year, parents can easily move into management mode. We manage lessons, schedules, attitudes, chores, activities, meals, appointments, and emotions. And when we are managing so much, we can forget to slow down and study the child in front of us.
Summer gives us space to pay attention. Before you plan next year, study your child. Get to know the child you have, not the one you think they should be.
Ask yourself:
What is my child drawn to right now?
What lights them up?
Where are they growing, and where are they weary?
Where do they need more responsibility — and where do they need more tenderness?
Every child is different. One may need more challenge. Another may need more confidence. One may need deeper conversations. Another may need more time beside you.
And some children simply need to enjoy their parents without every conversation becoming a correction. That can be hard to admit, but it is true.
Sometimes the relationship needs laughter, not lectures. Sometimes it needs sitting on the porch and letting the conversation come slowly.
Rules may control behavior for a season, but relationships shape hearts for a lifetime. Summer gives you time to build those relationships in ordinary ways. Do not underestimate ordinary. The ordinary moments often become the ones your children remember most.
You Don’t Have to Fix Everything This Summer (Permission Granted)
Now let’s talk to the mom who already has the list.
You want to catch up on math. Organize the house. Deep clean every room. Start a new meal plan. Fix the family schedule. Read aloud every day. Plan next year. Reduce screen time. Get everyone outside. Train the children in chores. Strengthen sibling relationships. Work on attitudes. Create fun memories. Exercise. Rest.
And somehow still feel like you’re enough.
Friend, that is too much.
Summer is not your make-up exam for everything that felt hard during the school year. It is okay to choose a few things that matter most. In fact, that is wisdom.
Ask yourself: What does our family need most right now?
Do we need rest?
Do we need a deeper connection?
Do we need better habits?
Do we need more laughter?
Do we need to rebuild trust with one child?
Do we need to simplify?
Most moms already know the answer. Deep down, you can feel what your family needs. The hard part is giving yourself permission to focus.
God doesn’t call you to do everything. He calls you to be faithful in the things He’s placed right in front of you.
So pick one or two priorities for summer. Not ten. Not fifteen. One or two.
Focus on rest and reading. Or family meals and less rushing. Maybe helping your children learn basic life skills. Maybe it is about reconnecting with a teen.
Let that be enough. You are allowed to have a simple, quieter summer.
This summer doesn't have to look impressive online, but it deeply nourishes your family.
That counts.
You Do Not Have To Do Everything
You can slow down, simplify, choose rest over constant output, create rhythm without pressure, reconnect with your child, and focus on what matters most.
The walk matters. The read-aloud matters. The quiet morning matters. The shared meal matters. The simple conversation matters. The moment you choose connection instead of criticism matters.
These are the small things that shape a family.
And sometimes the most important work of summer is not adding more. Sometimes it is making room for what your children needed all along.
“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28
This summer, may you have eyes to see what your family truly needs — and the courage to say no to everything else.
Ask One Better Question This Summer
Before summer gets away from you, ask this: What does my family need most? Not what is everyone else doing or what looks impressive. Try not to think, "What will make me feel like I am finally caught up?"
Then ask the same question about each child. Who needs more structure, more sleep, more encouragement, or more correction? When you ask better questions, you make better decisions, and you don’t have to make those decisions from panic. Choose to base your decision on wisdom.
What does your family need most this summer? Start there. Just there.
Don’t Let Mom Overload Crush You is a message every weary mom needs to hear when life feels too heavy, the schedule is too full, and the pressure keeps building.
Mom overload is real.
It can happen when you are homeschooling children, managing a busy home, caring for everyone’s needs, working, volunteering, keeping up with meals, trying to be emotionally present, and wondering why you feel so tired all the time.
It can happen when you are raising children, managing a busy home, caring for everyone’s needs, working, volunteering, keeping up with meals, trying to be emotionally present, and wondering why you feel so tired all the time.
Stop Mom Stress
Most moms don’t wake up one morning and say, “I’m burned out.”
It usually happens slowly.
One more responsibility. One more interrupted night of sleep. One more child who needs you. One more mess to clean. One more problem to solve. One more thing you feel guilty for not doing well enough.
Before long, your heart feels tired, your mind feels scattered, and your body starts telling you what your schedule refused to admit: you cannot keep carrying everything without rest.
But here is the hope: you are not alone, and you do not have to stay overwhelmed.
Why Mom Overload Feels So Heavy
Motherhood has always required sacrifice, but many moms today are carrying more than previous generations ever imagined.
You are not just raising children. You are managing calendars, emotions, education, meals, technology, friendships, household responsibilities, aging parents, work demands, church commitments, and the quiet pressure to keep everyone okay.
That is a lot.
And because moms love deeply, they often keep pouring out long after they are empty.
You say yes when you want to say no or keep moving when your body needs rest or you whisper, “I should be able to handle this.” Feeling guilty when you need a break is not a healthy response to an emotional need.
But needing rest does not mean you are weak. It means you are human.
God did not create you to live in a constant state of hurry, pressure, and exhaustion. He created you to depend on Him, walk with Him, and receive strength for the work He has placed in front of you.
Matthew 11:28 reminds us, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
That invitation is not just for everyone else. It is for you, too.
Signs You Might Be Experiencing Mom Burnout
Burnout often shows up before we have words for it.
You might feel emotionally drained, like you have nothing left to give. You may notice you are more irritable than usual, snapping over little things that normally would not bother you. You may be exhausted but unable to sleep because your mind keeps racing.
Sometimes burnout looks like losing joy in things you used to love. Other times, it looks like brain fog, forgetfulness, headaches, stomach issues, muscle tension, or a constant feeling that you are failing, no matter how much you do.
Those signs are not character flaws. They are warning lights.
They are your body, mind, and soul saying, “Something needs to change.”
And friend, that does not mean you need to overhaul your entire life overnight. It means you need to start paying attention and make small, faithful changes before stress breaks you down.
Start by Giving Yourself Grace
One of the first steps to easing mom overload is admitting you were never meant to do everything perfectly.
You are not a machine, a superhero, and you are not responsible for being everything to everyone.
You are a mom who loves her family, but you also need care, rest, support, and the strength of the Lord.
Some days, the homeschool lesson will not get finished. No one will judge you if the laundry sits in the basket until tomorrow. It's okay if dinner is cereal or leftovers. Some days, all you can do is show up with a tired heart and a willing spirit. And that is enough.
That still counts.
Your children do not need a perfect mom. They need a present, Mom, a steady Mom, a Mom who is learning how to trust God with what she cannot carry alone.
Set Realistic Expectations
A lot of mom stress comes from expectations that are too heavy.
We expect ourselves to teach well, cook healthy meals, maintain the home, nurture every child’s heart, support our husbands, serve others, keep up with work, and still have a peaceful attitude at the end of the day.
That is not realistic.
A healthier question is not, “How can I get everything done?”
The better question is, “What matters most today?”
Some days, what matters most is connection, rest, getting one important task done, apologizing, and starting again.
When you lower unrealistic expectations, you are not lowering your standards. You are learning wisdom.
Create More Margin in Your Day
A packed schedule leaves no room to breathe.
When every moment is filled, even small interruptions feel overwhelming. One spilled drink, one child melting down, one unexpected phone call, and suddenly the whole day feels like it is falling apart.
Margin gives you breathing room.
That might mean leaving fifteen minutes between activities. It might mean building quiet time into your homeschool day. It might mean keeping one evening a week free. It might mean choosing not to add another co-op, commitment, or activity in this season.
Margin is not wasted time. Margin is protection.
It gives your nervous system time to settle. It gives your children time to decompress. It gives your home room to become peaceful again.
Learn to Say No Without Guilt
Saying no is hard for many moms because we do not want to disappoint people.
But every yes costs something.
When you say yes to something that overloads your schedule, you may be saying no to peace, rest, patience, or connection with your family.
It is okay to say:
“That sounds wonderful, but I can’t commit right now.”
“Thank you for thinking of me, but my plate is full this week.”
“We’re going to stay home and have a quiet weekend.”
You do not have to explain every no. You do not have to justify needing space. You do not have to carry guilt for protecting what God has entrusted to you.
Sometimes the most faithful thing you can do is say no so you can say yes to what matters most.
Ask for Help Before You Hit Empty
Moms often wait too long to ask for help.
We tell ourselves everyone else is busy. We assume we can handle it. We minimize how tired we are until we are running on fumes.
But asking for help is not failure. It is wisdom.
Ask your husband to take something off your plate. Ask a friend to pray for you. Ask an older mom for perspective. Ask your children to help with age-appropriate responsibilities. Ask God to show you what you are carrying that He never asked you to pick up.
First Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
That means you do not have to carry your worries alone. You can bring the pressure, the fear, the exhaustion, and the guilt to the Lord. He cares for you in the middle of it.
You Can Stop Stress Before It Breaks You
Mom overload does not have to crush you.
You can pause, breathe, and reassess what is happening in your home and make necessary adjustments for your well-being.
You can release unrealistic expectations, create margin, and start leaning on the One who already is.
Motherhood will have demanding seasons. There will be days when you feel stretched thin and unsure how much more you can carry.
But you are not alone in the hard places.
God sees you. He cares for you. And He will give you wisdom for the next step, strength for today, and grace for the moments when you feel like you are not enough.
So take a deep breath, mama.
You do not have to do it all. You do not have to carry it all. And you do not have to let mom overload crush you.
The Lost Art of Making Friends: How Listening Builds Lasting Relationships is something many women quietly need but rarely know how to name. We can be surrounded by people, connected online, busy with family, church, work, and ministry, yet still feel the ache for deeper, more meaningful friendship. In my conversation with Becky Harling, author of Friend-Wise, we talked about why friendship can feel harder than it should and how the simple, powerful practice of listening helps us build the kind of lasting relationships our hearts were created for.
The Lost Art of Making Friends: How Listening Builds Lasting Relationships
Friendships are Built by Listening
People are struggling to make friends because friendship now requires something our culture keeps training out of us: attention. We are more connected than ever, but many of our conversations stay shallow, rushed, distracted, or performative. Becky Harling and I point you back to the kind of friendships that are built through listening, empathy, curiosity, and presence. Real friendship does not grow from being impressive; it grows when someone feels seen, heard, and safe. And in a world where people are tired, lonely, and often carrying more than they say out loud, learning to listen well may be one of the most powerful ways we can begin rebuilding meaningful connections.
Friendship Grows in Small Moments
There is hope for building meaningful friendships, even if it has been a long time since friendship felt easy. You do not have to become more impressive, more interesting, or more available to everyone. You can simply begin by becoming more present with one person. Listen a little longer. Ask one more thoughtful question. Notice what someone is carrying. Friendship grows in small, faithful moments, and as Becky reminds us, lasting relationships are built when people feel we are present, not distracted. The lost art of making friends can be learned again, one honest conversation at a time.
About, References, and Links
Becky Harling has a degree in biblical literature and is a speaker and Bible teacher. She is also the host of The Connected Mom podcast. Becky’s passion is to help women find hope, healing, freedom, and life transformation through Jesus Christ.
Chosen by God: Hearing His Voice. People are desperate to hear from Jesus, but struggle to know if what they hear is His voice.
They aren't casually curious or mildly interested, but desperate.
Because underneath the questions we ask out loud is the one we carry quietly:
Am I hearing Him right? Today, Rachael Groll joins me on the podcast to discuss how to hear Jesus in daily life.
We want clarity in decisions, peace amid uncertainty, and the assurance that we know when we move forward. And yet, for many, hearing God feels unclear, distant, or even intimidating. starts here
Hearing God Feels Hard—Rachael Groll Explains Why
Why Hearing God Feels So Difficult
We don’t struggle because God is silent. The struggle is due to all the noise.
The battle to hear His voice can be tied to:
Our own thoughts
Our emotions
Outside opinions
Cultural pressure
Fear of getting it wrong
And somewhere in the middle of all that, we are trying to discern: Is this God or is this me?
That tension can cause one of two responses. We either over-spiritualize everything or stop listening altogether. And honestly, neither leads to confidence.
Listening to God Is a Choice
Here’s where we need to remind ourselves. Listening to God is not reserved for the spiritually elite. It is not dependent on personality. And it is not based on how emotional or expressive you are.
Listening to God is a choice! It is that simple. Now, that isn't always easy, but it is simple.
Here are a few daily, intentional decisions that will help:
Turn down the noise
Turn toward truth
And posture your heart to hear
Scripture shows us this clearly. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
They hear, and they follow.
That means hearing God is not meant to be hard. It is meant to be relational. The more we focus on spending time with Him, the easier it is to hear His voice.
What Scripture Shows Us About Hearing God
God has always spoken to His people, but He doesn’t speak in confusion. He speaks in alignment with His Word, with clarity of character, and in a way that leads to obedience rather than chaos.
In my conversation with Rachael Groll, we unpacked something that many believers miss:
Hearing God is less about chasing a voice and more about knowing Him well enough to recognize when He speaks.
That is the difference we must understand.
Discernment: The Skill Most Believers Never Build
Discernment is how we learn to distinguish between:
Conviction and condemnation
Truth and fear
God’s leading and emotional reaction
But discernment doesn’t come from trying harder.
It comes from:
Time in Scripture
Familiarity with God’s character
A willingness to pause instead of react
This is where many people get stuck.
They want immediate clarity without building long-term confidence.
The Fear That Keeps Us Stuck
Many believers are not really struggling to hear God. They are afraid of getting it wrong.
What are they afraid of:
Making the wrong decision
Misinterpreting what they sense
Moving ahead without certainty
So instead of stepping forward, we hesitate. We wonder if the enemy is trying to trick us. But God is not hiding His will behind a maze of confusion.
He is a loving Father who leads.
How to Grow in Hearing His Voice
If you want to grow in hearing God, simplify the process.
Start here:
1. Anchor Yourself in Scripture
God’s voice will never contradict His Word. If it doesn’t align with Scripture, it’s not Him.
2. Slow Down Your Response Time
Clarity often comes in the pause, not the rush.
3. Pay Attention to Patterns
God is consistent in how He leads you over time.
4. Remove the Pressure of Perfection
You are learning a relationship, not performing for approval.
5. Act on What You Already Know
Obedience builds clarity.
You Were Chosen, Now Learn to Listen
You were not chosen by God to live in constant confusion.
The lord wants you to:
Know Him
Walk with Him
Hear Him
Follow Him
It won't be perfect, but we are to be faithful.
Hearing His voice is not about becoming someone else.
It is about learning to trust him in every area of life.
If you’ve been second-guessing yourself, you’re not alone.
But you don’t have to stay there.
You can grow in confidence. And when you do, you won’t just make better decisions.
You will walk with greater peace.
About, References, and Links
About Rachael: Rachael Groll is an author, speaker, and Bible teacher with a master’s degree in Bible Exposition from Biola University. She has spent years serving in ministry, helping make Scripture accessible and practical for everyday life.
Through her books, including Hearing Jesus and podcasts, Rachael encourages audiences to deepen their understanding of God’s Word and cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus.
