If you’ve ever wondered what a single mum summer routine actually looks like, this is a real, unfiltered look into mine. Summer as a mum isn’t always about perfect beach days or picture-perfect outings — it’s early mornings, quiet work windows, volunteering, and making the most of simple everyday moments with my daughter.
Right now, my single mum summer routine is built around balancing parenting a four-year-old, blogging, volunteering at the Brockville and area food bank, and trying to enjoy the slower pace that summer brings.
It’s not glamorous, but it works for us.
Our Weekly Rhythm: Monday to Friday
Our weekdays follow a fairly structured rhythm, which helps everything run more smoothly.
We usually wake up around 7am during the week, and a little later on weekends if we manage a lie-in until around 8am. After breakfast and getting ready, it’s daycare drop-off five days a week for my daughter.
She does get one full week off in July and another in August, which I always look forward to — even if I know it comes with a slightly different pace (and less quiet work time).
After drop-off, I head home and begin my workday. This structure is a key part of my single mum summer routine, because it allows me to balance parenting with work while she is at daycare.
Blogging, Volunteering, and Working from Home
Selfie outside Brockville food bank
Once I’m back home, the rest of my day is split between blogging, content creation, and general life admin.
At the moment, I spend around 12–16 hours per week blogging, alongside 4–8 hours a day on Instagram, so a large part of my single mum summer routine revolves around creating and sharing content.
Wednesdays and Fridays are my volunteering days at the Brockville and area food bank, which adds a different layer of purpose to my week. These days are more structured, but I genuinely value having something outside of parenting and blogging.
On other days, once I’m home from drop-off, I’ll usually:
- Write blog posts
- Plan and create Instagram content
- Catch up on household tasks
- Help my mum around the home when needed
It’s a flexible routine, but it relies heavily on making the most of quiet hours.
Summer Days with My Daughter
rotary park splash pad
One of my favourite parts of summer is how simple our days can be.
We usually go out for a proper activity about once a week, and it often becomes the highlight of our week. Summer doesn’t need to be complicated to be fun.
Some of our favourite places include:
- Rotary Park splash pad in Brockville
- St. Lawrence Park
- A local beach in Prescott near the small ice cream shop at the top of the road
Our weekends are usually a mixture of staying local, heading into Brockville, or taking a small day trip depending on the weather and how we’re feeling.
These outings are a big part of our single mum summer routine, but they’re never over-planned. Often, the best days are the simplest ones.
Evenings and Bedtime Routine
Evenings are one of the most consistent parts of our day, and I find that routine really helps both of us wind down.
Our typical bedtime flow looks like this:
- Around 6:30pm: Bath (not always every night)
- 7:00pm: Getting ready for bed
- 7:30pm: Reading together
- 8:00pm: She settles into bed with her books
- Around 9:00pm: Lights off once she’s finished her last book
On weekends, because she doesn’t nap like she does at daycare, she often falls asleep earlier than usual.
This routine is a grounding part of my single mum summer routine, and it gives us both a calm, predictable end to the day.
The Reality of Summer as a Single Mum
gazebo playing
If I’m honest, summer doesn’t look dramatically different from winter in our house.
The biggest difference is that my daughter is becoming more independent, which naturally makes day-to-day life feel a little easier. But overall, the structure of my single mum summer routine remains quite consistent throughout the year.
The most challenging parts are:
- Balancing everything without burning out
- Managing finances
- Keeping my daughter entertained on weekends
Weekends can sometimes feel the longest, especially when we’re trying to fill them in meaningful ways while still keeping things realistic.
What I’ve Learned About Summer Parenting
One thing I’ve really come to realise is that it doesn’t need to be a big day out for your child to have fun.
That’s something I remind myself often within my single mum summer routine — simple moments are usually the ones that stick.
Whether it’s a splash pad visit, a beach day, or just time spent outside together, it doesn’t have to be complicated to be special.
Our Perfect Summer Day
splash pad selfie
If I imagine our ideal summer day, it usually looks like this:
- A slow, easy morning
- A trip to the splash pad or beach
- Plenty of time outside without rushing
- Simple meals shared together
- A calm evening with our bedtime routine
Nothing extravagant — just a day that feels balanced, connected, and relaxed.
That’s really what I aim for in my single mum summer routine. Not perfection, but presence.
Final Thoughts
This is what life really looks like in my single mum summer routine — a mix of parenting, blogging, volunteering, and everyday life.
It’s not perfectly organised or always easy, but it’s ours.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned along the way, it’s this:
It really doesn’t need to be a big outing for your little one to have fun.
Sometimes, the simplest days are the ones that matter most.
If you liked reading this blog post as much as I liked writing it, you may like reading one of these other posts:
Summer as a Single Mum: The Good, the Hard, and the Honest Truth
Why blogging is the perfect side hustle for single mums
Trying to Build a Blog While Raising Someone: The Reality of Blogging as a Single Mum
I share more real-life moments from single motherhood, Ontario adventures, everyday style, food finds, and behind-the-scenes blogging over on Instagram.
Come say hello: @lifeofgem28
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