In the Season 1 finale, Krista and Samantha dive into the layered realities of summer—from the literal heat to the shifting dynamics of parenting, work, and personal growth that come with the season.
They reflect on seasonal preferences, family routines, and the joy (and anxiety) of gaining independence as a parent when your kids start spending more time away. There’s also conversation around shopping habits, travel hiccups, summer camps, and what it actually looks like to take a sabbatical when you’re an ambitious person who doesn’t unplug easily.
With a few tangents into writing projects, business systems, and why the podcast isn’t a job—it’s a joy—this episode is a love letter to the in-between season of trying to do it all, and the grace it takes to do just enough.
Takeaways & Merit Badges Earned:
🌡️ Summer heat hits hard—and affects your whole vibe.
🛍️ Seasonal shopping? Dangerous territory.
🏕️ Childhood camp experiences shape how we show up for our kids now.
📖 Reading habits shift with energy and workload.
🎒 Kid-free time brings both relief and reflection.
🛫 Travel with kids isn’t a break—it’s a different kind of work.
📱 Tech helps... until it doesn’t.
✍️ Sabbaticals can be self-directed—and still purposeful.
🗓️ Summer routines need flexibility and consistency.
📚 Personal projects (like writing) can fuel something bigger.
🎙️ The podcast? Still fun. Still not homework.
Still trying to balance rest and routines with ambition and sunscreen? Same.
💌 Follow us on Instagram @MamaMeritBadge
⭐️ If this episode resonated, leave us a review or send it to a friend who’s also figuring out how to enjoy summer and survive it.
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