Tips to survive the end-of-the-school-year season

May 01, 2025 at 10:32 AM EDT

(BPT) - Have you heard about Maycember? If you're a parent, you've probably lived it - even if the name's new to you. Maycember is that hectic, stressful period at the end of the school year filled with final projects, back-to-back events and the scramble to prepare for summer. Suddenly, you're juggling camp sign-ups, childcare logistics - all while still in school-year mode.

According to a new poll of 2,000 U.S. millennial parents of school-aged children, many parents find the end of the school year makes them feel exhausted (29%), anxious (28%) and overwhelmed (21%). This period of stress begins on average 28 days before the last day of the school year, in the middle of May. Commissioned by Bob Evans and conducted by Talker Research, the study found that many parents believe the final month of the school year is busier than fall break (42%), spring break (41%), winter break (37%) and even back-to-school season (35%).

Parents who feel stressed by the final weeks of the school year said the anxiety stems from having to figure out how to balance work with their child's summer schedule (49%), having an unpredictable schedule (41%) and not having enough time for household tasks (37%).

Sound familiar? If so, you probably already know that one of the biggest stressors of the season is handling dinnertime, especially on busy weeknights full of after-school activities, homework and other demands. The survey also discovered that more than 1 in 4 parents (27%) find it challenging to prepare dinner and sit down to eat it with their families. Dinner struggles, according to these parents, are due to feeling too exhausted to cook at the end of the day (59%), running out of ideas for what to make (53%), and not wanting to deal with prep or clean-up afterward (45%).

If mealtime feels extra stressful this time of year, you're not alone. Here are a few strategies and tools to manage your time better and make weeknight dinners feel a little less like a chore.

Build in time cushions

When planning schedules around after-school activities, overestimate how long things will take - from getting out the door to travel time between stops. Adding an extra 15-20 minutes here and there can give you some breathing room and help prevent those last-minute scrambles when things don't go as planned.

Have breakfast for dinner

Breakfast staples like eggs and sausage come together fast, making them ideal for busy nights. Using protein-rich ingredients like Bob Evans Liquid Egg Whites and Pork Sausage give you a satisfying balanced meal in minutes. Pair them with sweet favorites like pancakes or waffles, for a dinner that feels fun and fills everyone up.

Repurpose your leftovers

Leftovers don't have to feel like a repeat. Use extra chicken or beef from a meal earlier in the week to create something new - toss them in a stir-fry, wrap them in a tortilla or add them to pasta. A few fresh ingredients can give yesterday's dinner a whole new spin.

Mix and match family-favorite sides

Not every part of dinner needs to be made from scratch. Stock your kitchen with easy side dish staples like Bob Evans Macaroni & Cheese and Mashed Potatoes. These sides are ready in just 10 minutes, with minimal prep and cleanup, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time connecting with your family around the dinner table - even on the busiest nights.

Bob Evans 12 Days of Maycember Giveaway

Now through May 12, consumers can enter to win a new prize each day - from time-saving helpers to a little well-deserved self-care by visiting the Bob Evans Instagram or Facebook pages. On Instagram, you must follow Bob Evans, like the sweepstakes post and fulfill the daily prompt with #sweepstakes. On Facebook, you must fulfill the daily prompt with #sweepstakes.

Find more quick and convenient dinner staples, plus easy recipes to take the stress out of weeknight meals, at BobEvansGrocery.com.

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Tips to survive the end-of-the-school-year season

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