Mom-Made Motivation: The Countdown That Works

Let’s set the scene: It’s summer. The sun is out. The vibes are lazy. But in one house? The grind is on.

My dear friend Elizabeth’s son is in a high school Geometry summer class. And we’re not talking about a chill, "let’s dabble in shapes and call it enrichment" kind of class. Nope. This is a full-on, 28-day, 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM, plus homework kind of deal.

It’s intense. It’s sweaty. It’s enough to make any teenager question their life choices.

But Elizabeth? She didn’t just say “Good luck, bud.” She made this:

A GIANT COUNTDOWN CALENDAR

When your kid’s taking Geometry at 8AM in June, you bring out the big guns: a countdown calendar, a little humor, and snacks on standby.

Each day, her son can walk by and see exactly how many days are left until he finishes. It’s part visual aid, part emotional support, part “we can do this” war cry in dry erase marker.

Why is this genius?

Because motivation tanks when the path ahead feels endless. But a countdown? A countdown gives you hope. It gives structure. It says, “Look how far you’ve come—and you’re almost there.”

As an executive functioning coach, I work with a lot of families who ask:
 How do I help my kid stay motivated when the work is long and the finish line is fuzzy?

And honestly? This. Right here.

• A visual system
• A shared goal
• A daily reminder that progress is happening
• And a parent who’s fully in the game (not just watching from the bleachers)

Elizabeth’s calendar is more than just numbers on a wall. It’s a signpost of support. A kitchen-based pep talk. Proof that parenting through tough academic moments doesn’t have to be fancy—it just has to be intentional.

So to all the parents out there getting creative this summer?
 • Keep making the calendars.
 • Keep cheering from the kitchen.
 • And please, please keep using sunglasses emoji on your kids' photos. It’s a whole vibe.

Parent Tip: Want to try this at home?
 Make your own countdown for:
 ✅ Summer school
 ✅ Camp drop-off nerves
 ✅ “How many days until my room is clean?”
 ✅ Test prep
 ✅ College app season (deep breaths)

It’s low-tech but high-impact—a simple strategy that says, “Hey, we’re in this together.”

#executivefunctioning #parentingwin #countdowncalendar #geometrystruggles #teenmotivation #adhdstrategies #visualsupport #familyEFcoach #midsummermath #kitchensolutions #katiespeetzen