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Hey there, {{first_name | friend}},
Every year, I make a promise to myself that I’ll be more organized with planning summer camps and activities before June rolls around.
But despite these good intentions, every year, I find myself scrambling, panic-texting other moms trying to figure out what’s still available (and what my kids will actually enjoy), and how on earth I’m going to cover those last weeks of open calendar time while still showing up at work and keeping everyone fed 😅
Sound familiar?
If so, here’s what I’ve learned:
Any investment you make in planning right now will pay off big during those hot summer months. Even one focused hour with the right tools can take days of mental load off your plate later. This email is dedicated to helping you do exactly that.
Now Streaming: Summer Prep Using AI with Nicole Hamlin from JustLiv
"I want to just live, not just plan all the time."
That's what Nicole Hamlin, founder of JustLiv, said to me on this week’s AI-Empowered Mom podcast. And honestly? Same.
In this episode, we talk about how to get ahead of summer so when June hits, you can actually enjoy it. Nicole shares what parents can do right now to stop the scramble and reclaim some of that mental space for what matters most.
Listen on my website, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
2 Tools I Love: Summer Planning Made Easier
JustLiv invites you to share your child's interests, your schedule, budget, and location, and get a personalized activity calendar, just for your family. Filter by age, category, and price, and sync with friends to see what they’re attending. Sign up for free today to get a jump-start on summer.
Recess is a go-to resource for finding summer camps your kids will love. Built by two moms who were tired of the search themselves, Recess pulls together hundreds of trusted camp programs in one place so you can find the right fit fast.
(P.S. To find out more about Recess’s story, listen to co-founder Molly Morse’s AI-Empowered Mom podcast episode here)
AI Prompts: The Summer Planning Edition
Prompt 1: For finding last-minute camps that still have spots
Act as a summer camp research assistant. I need to find camps for my child that still have openings. My child is [age], lives in [city], and is interested in [activities or interests]. I need options that start no earlier than [date], end no later than [date] and cost no more than [budget] per week. Format the output as a list with the camp name, age range, dates, cost, and a one-sentence description of why it might be a good fit.
Mom tip: If AI suggests something that sounds perfect, search the camp name to verify spots are still open. AI can be spotty regarding real-time availability, but it will give you a solid starting list fast.
Prompt 2: For building a summer bucket list your family will love
Act as a creative family activity planner. Help me build a summer bucket list for my family. My kids are [ages], we live in [city or region], our budget is [range], and we have [X] weeks. We will be [traveling for X weeks, staying home, mix of both]. Ask us ten fun questions to understand our likes, dislikes, etc, then create our list. Mix big experiences with simple, low-cost ones. Include at least one outdoor adventure, one creative activity, one community or service idea, and one thing that is just for fun. Format the output as a categorized list we can print and check off together.
Mom tip: Do this with your kids. Read the list out loud, let them react, give AI feedback, and let them cross things off as you go. Here’s what we came up with using Claude.
Prompt 3: For finding time for mom in the middle of all of it
Act as a personal wellness planner who specializes in supporting caregivers. I am a [parent/caregiver] with [number] kids at home this summer. Here is what a typical week looks like for me: [describe your schedule]. Help me identify at least 3 realistic windows of time I can protect for myself each week this summer, and suggest one simple thing I could do with each window. Format the output as a gentle, encouraging weekly self-care plan.
Mom tip: This one hits different when you are honest about what summer actually looks like. Last year, I succumbed to eating so many kids’ snacks instead of balanced meals that by the end of summer, I felt horrible. This summer will be different!
Poll: Summer Stress
Which part of summer planning stresses you out most?
Until next time,
P.S. Three interesting opportunities for parents and caregivers came through my inbox this week:
For the Millennial caregivers in our circle: You’re invited to participate in a Tufts University graduate research study exploring experiences with artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Eligible participants are adults (18+) who identify as part of the millennial generation who are parents or primary caregivers. Participation involves completing a one-time anonymous survey that takes approximately 8-10 minutes. Participation is voluntary, no identifying information will be collected, and (the real bonus) you can help support a mom researching AI for caregivers. If you are interested in helping out, please access the survey here.
For Moms of kids K-12 in the US South or Midwest: Second Peninsula is producing a short-form documentary about the human side of AI that will be published on the Omidyar Network website. Moms interested in participating and can talk on camera about how they see AI affecting their kids' lives and futures can apply online here.
For the stepmoms in our community: Mother's Day can bring equal parts joy and heartache. Our friends at StepFamily Solutions are throwing them a party on May 6 (with Jessica Frew, Lemon to Lemonade Gifts) - and giving them real tools for the moments that sting, along with a lot of sweet gifts as well. Get the details here and share with a stepmom in your circle.
I’m Sarah, mom of 3 girls, MBA, and AI strategist. I created AI-Empowered Mom to share practical, responsible ways AI can help lighten the mental load of parenthood. I’m so glad you’re here.
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