A Motherhood Mentor’s Guide The Power of the Pause: Rediscover You After Summer

The summer holidays bring a unique rhythm—long days with the children, busy schedules filled with adventures (and negotiations), and the constant juggle between your career and family life. It can be a beautiful season, but also one that can stretch you thin.

Now, as the school bags are lined up by the door, the uniforms are miraculously clean (for now), and the house is a little quieter, many women find themselves taking a deep breath (of relief and anticipation) and wondering:  What now—for me?

The Relief of Structure

There’s something grounding about the return to routine. The familiarity, everyone understanding what’s coming next. The house suddenly feels calm without snack requests every 15 minutes, you can take a phone call without someone shouting “Muuuuum!” in the background, and your coffee might actually stay hot.

Structure is not just a gift for children—it’s a gift for you too. Whilst the anticipation what’s’ coming next in the holidays is exciting for kids, the pressure can be overwhelming for mums. The return to the predictability of term-time life allows you to regain some focus and energy for yourself, your work, and it creates a little space think clearly.

Allow Yourself to Pause

After weeks of juggling, it’s tempting to sprint into “catch-up mode”—clearing inboxes, organising schedules, booking things you put off all summer. But before you dive in, pause. Notice how you feel. Tired? Relieved? A bit wobbly?

That pause matters. It’s not laziness—it’s needed to reset. Rest matters, especially for yourself. Before you rush in think about how much of this is essential or what you could hand over to someone else.

Reclaiming Your Space

With the children back at school, you may rediscover small freedoms you hadn’t realised you missed: finishing a sentence without interruption, eating a snack without sharing it, or simply thinking your own thoughts.

These little things are big reminders that you are more than “Mum Taxi” or a professional launderer. You’re a professional, a partner, a woman with her own ambitions, needs—and this season is an opportunity to reconnect with that.

Gentle Transitions, Not Leaps

Don’t expect yourself to jump from summer chaos into a polished routine overnight. Start small: a meal plan that doesn’t involve endless ice creams, a clear line between work and home, or a ten-minute walk that’s just for you.

Look for harmony rather than balance. There are some things that must give on some days and other times when somehow everything happened.

This isn’t about doing it all perfectly—it’s about noticing what needs your energy most today (and forgiving yourself tomorrow if today was powered mostly by caffeine).

The Season of Letting Go

With the beginning of Autumn here, this return to routine is more than just logistics—it’s a reset button. You can begin again with fresh perspective. Ask yourself:

• What am I thankful for?

• What do I want more of in my days?

• What do I need to let go of?

• How do I want to feel as this year closes?

It’s not about reinventing everything—it’s about giving yourself permission to matter again. A motherhood mentor can help you hold that vision and walk toward it with clarity.

Closing Thought

The summer holidays may have stretched you, but they also reminded you of your capacity. Now, as the familiar structure returns, you can create the space to turn inward—to your work, your goals, and yourself.

Because as the seasons shift, so do you. And this one? It might finally come with hot coffee.