June 2025

Monthly Magic from The Real Work

Real stories. New tools. Gentle support.

☀️ The Myth of the Easy Summer

If it doesn’t feel relaxing at your house, you’re not doing it wrong.

For many families, the shift into summer throws everything off:

• Bedtimes stretch later
• Schedules disappear
• Sensory systems go haywire
• And nobody knows what day it is

It’s easy to think summer should be easier.
But actually? The loss of rhythm, routine, and predictability can be really hard on kids’ nervous systems, and therefore on ours, too.

Let’s drop the myth of the “easy summer” and make space for what your family really needs, and let go of traditional summer vacation expectations.

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💡 Quick Tip: Space Is Not Selfish

If you're anything like me, not only do you have a hard time taking space when you're overstimulated, you also might have a hard time knowing when to give your child space, too (especially if they seem dysregulated and volatile).

"Needing space" can mean so many things and the phrase might be too abstract for some kids. So, here is a handout that might help throughout the day:

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📥 Free Download: 4 Tips for Supporting Kids Through Transitions

Whether it’s switching camps, going on a trip, or just moving from screen time to dinner, transitions can be tough.

Gabi Rookard, LCSW shares 4 bite-sized tips to help kids move through transitions with more ease:

👉 Download the PDF here​

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🌱 What’s Happening This Season

✅ Summer groups are starting soon at The Real Work and Thrive Outside. If you’ve joined one — we can’t wait to see you!

💡 Thinking ahead to midsummer and fall? We’re floating an idea:

Would your child thrive in a special interest social group with other kids who share their passions (e.g., animals, Pokémon, storytelling, bugs, Minecraft)?

🗣️ Hit reply and tell us what your kiddo is obsessed with — we’re building out group ideas now.

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💬 From Gabi Rookard, LCSW: On Bedtimes

Bedtime can be the hardest part of the day for many kids and parents.

Some kids seem to get more and more wound up, hyper, and dysregulated the closer that witching hour approaches… which leaves parents feeling stressed, frustrated, and with a pit of dread in their chests on a nightly basis.

If this is you and your child, take a breath. It makes sense that this feels extremely frustrating and stressful… because it is extremely frustrating and stressful. You want the best for your kid, and you want to be able to get to sleep yourself after a long, busy day.

Bedtime can cause anxiety for children for a number of reasons. One big one is that your child can sense a separation is coming… bedtime is often the longest period of time your child is required not only to be separated from you, but alone in a room without a safe and loving adult present. It makes sense that this can feel scary!

Another reason is your child may not have the skills to be able to calm their body down. It is especially hard to transition from something requiring a high amount of energy to the thing that requires the lowest amount of energy (which is sleeping). They may need your help to make this transition.

Here are a few strategies you can try at home to help make bedtime routine something you and your child actually look forward to. (Can you imagine?!)

Read Full Post Here