Summer always wreaks havoc on our routines and schedules. Every week is different with vacations, swim lessons, and summer camps. Our days smell of sunscreen, hose water, and sticky popsicles. I want to savor the slow afternoons spent running around the backyard or curled up watching a movie. Yet my work deadlines don’t slow down, and neither do my kids’ appetites. The laundry continues to pile up with beach towels and swimsuits. I make packing lists, pack, and unpack—only to do it again the next week. As much joy as summer brings, I often feel like life is out of control.

As a woman who craves routine and structure, I search for ways to control these chaotic summer days. I scroll Etsy for a chore chart. I search for kids’ activities on Pinterest. I spend too much time in Excel trying to finagle the perfect daily routine. I begin my morning hovering over my color-coded planner.