Maycember: When the Busyness of December Meets May
If you're a mom, chances are you've heard the term "Maycember." And if you haven't, let me introduce you to one of the most accurate descriptions of motherhood I've ever heard.
Maycember is that season when the busyness of December somehow shows up in May. It's the month where the calendar seems to explode overnight, and suddenly you're trying to keep up with end-of-school activities, graduations, birthday parties, sports banquets, awards ceremonies, summer planning, vacations, and every other event imaginable.
And honestly? As a mom, I completely understand why people call it Maycember.
Depending on the season of motherhood you're in, May can feel like a whirlwind. If you have younger children, you may be juggling classroom parties, field days, and teacher appreciation events. If you have teenagers, there may be athletic banquets, end-of-year performances, and preparations for summer activities. If you have college students or graduating seniors, your heart may be full as you celebrate major milestones while simultaneously wondering how time passed so quickly.
And let's not forget all the birthdays. I don't know what happened, but it seems like everyone decided to have babies around the same time because May is packed with birthday celebrations too!
Do you relate?
The Blessings Can Still Feel Overwhelming
Now, don't get me wrong.
Most of these things are wonderful blessings. These are moments we've prayed for, worked toward, and looked forward to for years. We want to celebrate our children. We want to support our loved ones. We want to be present for the memories.
But one thing I've learned as both a mom and a therapist is that even blessings can become overwhelming when too many arrive at once. Sometimes we think overwhelm only comes from difficult circumstances, but that's simply not true. Overwhelm can come from too many good things happening at the same time.
As working moms, we often find ourselves trying to be everything for everyone. We want to attend every event, volunteer where needed, celebrate every accomplishment, support every family member, keep up with work responsibilities, maintain our homes, stay connected to our spouses, and still somehow take care of ourselves.
The problem is that there are only twenty-four hours in a day.
No matter how organized we are, we simply cannot be in multiple places at one time.
The Mental Load Behind the Calendar
What often makes May feel exhausting isn't just the number of events on the calendar. It's the mental load that comes with them. It's remembering who needs to be where and when. It's making sure permission slips were signed, outfits are washed, gifts are purchased, food is prepared, transportation is coordinated, and schedules don't overlap.
It's checking emails, responding to invitations, planning summer childcare, arranging vacations, and making sure everyone has what they need before the school year ends.
For many working moms, the mental load is often more exhausting than the actual events themselves. By the time we finally arrive at the graduation, banquet, or ceremony, we're already mentally tired from everything it took to get there. This is one reason why so many moms experience emotional exhaustion and burnout during this season.
Our minds are carrying so much information that there is very little space left for rest.
Why Rest Becomes Even More Important in May
Ironically, the seasons when we need rest the most are often the seasons when we prioritize it the least. When life gets busy, rest is usually the first thing we sacrifice.
We stay up later trying to finish tasks.
We wake up earlier to get ahead.
We skip quiet moments with God because we're rushing to the next obligation.
We tell ourselves we'll rest once everything is finished.
But if you're anything like me, you've probably learned that everything is never truly finished. There's always another task to complete, another event to attend, another responsibility waiting around the corner. That's why rest cannot simply be something we do when life slows down.
Rest has to become something we intentionally practice while life is still busy.
The Importance of Pausing
In several of my previous blogs, I've talked about the power of the pause. And May is one of those seasons where pausing becomes even more important.
A pause allows your nervous system to settle.
A pause gives your mind an opportunity to breathe.
A pause helps you reconnect with what matters most.
Sometimes the pause is five minutes, sitting quietly in your car before walking into the next event. Sometimes it's stepping outside for a brief walk. Sometimes it's putting your phone down and simply sitting in the presence of God.
The pause doesn't have to be long to be powerful.
It simply has to be intentional.
What Jesus Shows Us About Rest
One of the things I love about Jesus is that He never seemed rushed.
He had responsibilities.
He had people who needed Him.
He had an assignment from God.
Yet throughout Scripture, we repeatedly see Jesus withdrawing to spend time with the Father. He made room for rest. He made room for prayer. He made room for solitude.
As Christian moms, we sometimes convince ourselves that faithfulness means saying yes to everything. But faithfulness and exhaustion are not the same thing. God never called us to run ourselves into the ground trying to prove our love for our families. He called us to abide in Him. And sometimes abiding means choosing rest.
Sometimes it means saying no. Sometimes it means asking for help. Sometimes it means letting something go.
Practical Ways to Navigate Maycember
As you move through this busy season, I want to encourage you to give yourself grace. You do not have to attend every event. You do not have to create the perfect summer plan overnight. You do not have to carry every responsibility alone. Take moments throughout your day to check in with yourself.
Ask yourself:
How am I feeling right now?
What do I need?
Have I taken a moment to breathe today?
These simple questions can help you stay connected to yourself instead of running on autopilot.
And remember, rest doesn't always mean taking a vacation. Sometimes rest looks like choosing not to add one more thing to your plate.
Final Encouragement
Mama, if you're feeling overwhelmed by Maycember, you're not alone.
The busyness is real.
The schedules are real.
The mental load is real.
But God's grace is real, too. This season is full of beautiful moments worth celebrating. Enjoy the graduations. Take the pictures. Cheer at the events. Laugh at the birthday parties. Create the memories. But don't forget yourself in the process.
The goal isn't simply to survive May. The goal is to experience the blessings of this season without losing your peace. So take a deep breath. Pause when you need to. Rest when you can. And remember that caring for yourself is not taking away from your family—it's one of the greatest gifts you can give them.
Because a rested mom is often a healthier, more present, and more peaceful mom.
And that, Mama, is worth making time for.
