If your May calendar feels like a full-contact sport—school concerts, final projects, sports banquets, late-night homework help, and oh yeah, your actual job—you are not alone.

This time of year feels like a marathon...
Except we’re stumbling through it in half-winter, half-spring wardrobes, juggling backpacks, emotions, and snack wrappers—on the subway, in the car, or wherever parenting happens these days.

We’re all crawling toward June, just hoping our kids (and we) can stay afloat with school, social pressures, and everything in between. Let’s talk about how to get through it—with a little humor, a lot of compassion, and some actual tools that help.

The May-June Slump: It’s Real

This stretch looks different for every student—but across every age and stage, the pressure is real:

The wide-eyed 5th grader is wrapping up elementary school—excited but uneasy about what’s next. They’re navigating final class projects, field trips, and goodbyes, all while quietly wondering how they’ll handle middle school.
The 8th grader is feeling the growing pains of change. They’re worried about getting lost in crowded hallways, forgetting their locker combo, or sitting alone at lunch. They’re figuring out how to blend in, make friends, and not feel totally dorky.
The high school junior is in the thick of it: AP exams, SAT prep, practices, performances, and the looming pressure of “college.” They’re trying to focus in class while quietly wondering if they’re already behind.
The senior is floating between endings and beginnings—prom, finals, graduation, and all the “What’s next?” questions. They’re excited and nervous and exhausted all at once.
The college student is surrounded by textbooks, late-night study sessions, and unanswered emails. They're pushing through finals while managing big decisions about majors, jobs, or what comes after college—and it’s a lot.

Your child isn’t just learning math and history. They’re juggling:

Teacher and parent expectations — Managing two sets of priorities, each with its own urgency and tone.
Group chats and social drama — Navigating a social web of friendships, misunderstandings, and drama that can escalate with a single screenshot.
Spring events and deadlines — Shifting from performances and banquets to last-minute projects that somehow all land in the same week.
Constant digital distractions — Trying to finish homework while group chats ping, TikTok tempts, and YouTube auto-plays “just one more.”

And with all of that comes the fallout:

Meltdowns
Missed assignments
Late-night panics
Emotional exhaustion (yours and theirs)

Even high-achieving kids start to fall apart. And we're expected to keep everything afloat on caffeine and stubborn optimism.

How to Make It to June (Without Losing Your Mind)

You don’t need a life overhaul. Just a few shifts to help your child (and you) survive the home stretch:

For Younger Students (Elementary & Early Middle School)

Visual checklists — Break the day into steps they can see and complete. Crossing things off feels empowering.
Predictable routines — Keep mornings and evenings as consistent as possible. The brain craves structure.
Validate big feelings — Acknowledge the emotion, then offer a path forward: “Let’s do one small thing together.”
Celebrate little milestones — A donut after a class presentation counts as joy. So does playground time after finishing a project.

For Older Students (Middle School, High School, and College)

Weekly overviews — Map out tests, events, and deadlines. Visibility lowers stress.
Designated “college hour” — Limit stress to a window of time instead of letting it hijack every day.
Encourage Breaks—playing basketball, creating a playlist, FaceTiming a friend, rewatching a favorite show, walking the dog, or even scrolling memes for a set amount of time. The goal is balance, not perfection.
Finals checklist — Include due dates, logistics, and submissions so they don’t rely on memory.

For Parents

Ask: “What can we let go of?” — Not everything has to get done. Skip the bake sale. Order takeout.
Be the calm, not the chaos — Your regulation helps theirs. Deep breath. Then respond.
You’re not the homework police — Try, “How can I help you get started?” instead of, “Why isn’t this done?”
Drop the comparison game — If you’re somewhere between thriving and treading water, you’re not failing. You’re human. And you’re doing just fine

Helpful for Everyone

Celebrate progress — Even messy wins are wins.
Create a countdown — 10 days to field day? Mark it!
Celebrate the finish — Pizza, a movie, or their favorite dessert counts. It doesn’t need to be Pinterest-worthy.

And if your teenager is too busy for you and hits you with the classic, “Nah, I’m good, thanks,” don’t let that be the end of the conversation. Make sure they hear this: “This year wasn’t always easy, but you didn’t give up. That matters. And I’m proud of you.”

Bonus: Summer = Reset Season

Once the chaos ends, and everyone’s had a nap and a snack (yourself included), summer becomes a golden opportunity.

The backpacks will finally stay on their hooks. The alarm clocks will pause. And that constant mental checklist you’ve been carrying? It gets a little lighter.

You’ll feel the weight of this mad dash begin to lift—and before you know it, the pace will slow. The sun will stretch a little longer into the evening. Meals will feel less rushed. And everyone, finally, will start to breathe a little easier again.

Whatever didn’t get addressed during the school year can be revisited with a clearer head and steadier heart. Summer offers space. Space to reset, to reconnect, and to rebuild at a gentler pace.

What to Focus on This Summer:

For Students:

Time management & planning — Teach them how to break big tasks into smaller steps.
Emotional regulation — Help them discover what helps calm them down in moments of stress.
Self-advocacy — Practice asking for help or speaking up in class.
Sign them up for academic coaching— Whether one-on-one or in a small group—to strengthen skills and build confidence heading into September.

For Parents:

Review their IEP or 504 plan — Summer is a perfect time to revisit what’s working and submit any requests, so changes can be in place before school starts—or at the very latest, by early September.
Coaching for you—even if your child isn't ready — Learn simple, effective ways to reduce conflict, support motivation, and encourage independence without power struggles. Sometimes, the shift starts with you.

Let’s Talk

If you're wondering how summer coaching could help—or if you're just feeling overwhelmed and want to bounce around ideas—I’m here.

📅 Book a free 15-minute consultation
🌐 Visit my website

We’re almost there. June is coming. Lazy mornings and slower days are just around the corner. (Yes, we might miss structure after two weeks—but we’ll panic about that later. 😅)

You’ve got this. And I’ve got your back if you need me.

— Michelle Pérez Foster

Almost There: Helping Kids Finish the Year Strong (and Parents Stay Sane)