The Summer of...

This summer I only ask one thing: that I enjoy my summer with my kids. Often we rush to fill in the time and spaces and do as much as we can so we don't "miss out" on the fun stuff. Sometimes the most fun stuff is the "in between" times.

This summer is the  Summer of Letting Go. I am letting go of a clean house, routine, perfect behavior, schedules of activities, and plans. I am a planner by heart. So this is difficult. A friend called me the other day. From SCOTLAND! She asked for an immediate favor. Meaning I needed to leave my house on a moment's notice and go complete a task that she couldn't since she was out of the country. Of course I said! Gathered up the kids, jumped in the car, and went and completed said task. That led to my children seeing the pool and asking if they could run home and change into swim suits and go for a swim. My planner mindset screamed "NO! This is not the plan! I have things to do!" But out of my mouth came "Sure!" And off we went. An impromptu swim session in the middle of the day.

This summer is also the Summer of Fun. I want to have as much fun with my kids as possible. I only have 8 more summers with my son and 10 more with my daughter. We are counting down people. They are growing up fast. I want to slow down and breathe in the joy of kids in the summer. No school. No homework. No stress. No getting up early and plenty of going to bed late. My kids want to swim, explore, read books (that no one told them they HAVE to...LOL), play games, binge watch their favorite shows, eat lots of pizza and Popsicles, ride bikes, go camping, and snuggle with me on the couch watching a movie. My daughter is sneaking a book at night when she can't fall asleep and reading by nightlight. My son is drawing pictures in his bed and reading Harry Potter. Fun, fun, fun.

This is also the Summer of Strength. This is a more personal one. I tend to do a lot of yoga and running and very little strength training. So I have deemed this summer to be the perfect time to work on building up my strength. I am doing bodyweight exercises that need no equipment and adding in yoga to stretch out sore tight muscles. By August, I will be a strong woman!

I am so lucky to be able to stay home with my kids during the summer. I get to spend so much time with them. I love to talk to them, laugh with them, and play with them. I get to hear their thoughts on life and what interests them. I get to hear my daughter sing and make up her own songs. I get to listen to them read. I'm with them when they learn something new and accomplish a new feat. (This could also be the summer of flips in the pool...) This time is precious and I pray that I will not waste it on dishes, clean floors, and forced routines.

Yay summertime!