Summer, Libraries, & Ice Cream
Not necessarily in that order.
Hello everyone!
I hope you’re living a decent week. I know that sounds on the sad side, but I mean it in a nice, realistic way. Sometimes saying “I hope you’re doing great, or living your best life” feels really aggressive, yes? How many people are really living their best lives, like, right this minute? What does that even look like?
It was one of those weeks that went too fast. You know the kind where you feel like you can’t even catch your breath before the next thing starts? I just remembered it’s only Thursday.
I’m thinking a lot about summer and I feel as if I’m approaching it with my lock-down mentality; rigid schedules, learning opportunities, and screen free fun. This happens naturally to me because motherhood lends itself well to organization and routines. But, I don’t want the kids to feel like they are in jail all summer.
For those of you with children getting ready to be with you full-time again during the summer, I’d like to give you a few words of encouragement and a suggestion. This is my first summer with my son out of Kindergarten and my daughter out of preschool.
Lower your expectations - Please stop printing worksheets you’re not going to use. The kids don’t want to learn multiplication on a sunny summer day, or perhaps, ever. Also, they’re 3 and 6, so calm down, Angela. LET THEM JUST PLAY.
The library is your best friend - She will take care of you with new books and play corners and brainy staff and summer programs. Run. Do not walk.
Eat more ice cream - Oh, no, there’s no explanation for this one.
Find a farm - There’s one near me that has a free playground and animals running around to pet and feed. There’s also more ice cream. Kid’s love animals and grass and air. I think it’s our natural state to be outside.
May I suggest a tea time for mom? I have to transfer the magic of this to summertime, but most recently I’ve been making myself a cup of dessert tea (go quickly look that up), sitting on my small front porch, and listening to the birds, the trees, and if my brain is up to it, a CALM podcast. You might want to listen to mine, just saying…I do this while waiting for my son’s bus to arrive. It makes a big difference after that 3pm crash. Do you get that, too?
As summer approaches, I’m trying to remind myself that I’ve got this one life to live right now. When I get overwhelmed, I try to think of the big picture. These kids will be adults one day. I will be an adult one day. But seriously, I have my youth now. I want to use it to have fun and love and…well maybe that’s it.
More to come.
Talk to you soon,
Angela
