A Thriving Summer

I kind of just realized that summer is almost here. I mean, I knew summer was coming because the kids started coming home with less and less homework and the temperatures have been creeping up and we’ve been eating popsicles almost every afternoon. But it didn’t really sink in until this morning that next week is the last week of school. Not only is it the last week of school but they get out early each of those 4 days. (Insert panic.) If you’re a mother of school-aged children, then you’re familiar with the combined feelings of relief and fear that comes with planning a summer routine. Then, of course, add in trying to build your business, which you run from home, which is now suddenly full of children all day long for 8 straight weeks.

I’m so ready for the relaxed schedule and the ability to do things at our own pace but it also means finding things to do that don’t require too much screen time, too much mess, or me spending too much time in the car. Here’s the other thing: I don’t want to have yet another summer where I wonder where the days went. Where I look back and find nothing worth remembering. Not that I feel the need to fill the summer with blockbuster events every week, but I do want to be intentional about crafting memories for myself and the kids. I do want to feel like we accomplished something both individually and together, no matter how small. I don’t want to just survive, I want us to thrive.

How am I going to thrive summer?

1. Establish routine. I’m digging in my bag of old Waldorf-inspired resources and implementing a weekly and daily rhythm. The four of us will all function better when we know what the expectations for the day and week will be. We’ll have weekly trips to the library, pool, and beach but layer in plenty of open space for rest, spontaneity, and for mommy to work.

2. One Family, One Book. In the past our schools have done One School, One Book, a reading initiative where every family is given one book to read at home that they then discuss at school. I love the idea of bringing this into our summer plans. One, this will ensure that everyone is getting some reading in, and two, it provides another way for us to connect. At the top of my list are James and the Giant Peach and The Phantom Tollbooth.

3. Family Vacation. I’m really disappointed that we won’t be able to travel to Louisiana to spend time with the grandparents. One of the things I didn’t account for in this move is just how much more expensive and infrequent direct flights are from San Francisco to New Orleans but we have to make the best of it. I’m hoping I can distract the children by making a trip up to Anderson Valley in Mendocino County to see another stretch of coastline, eat some cheese, and drive through a redwood tree.

4. Popsicles. Word on the street is that this particular part of California is really hot in the summer so I’m devoting a significant portion of the summer grocery budget to popsicles so that we at least feel a little cooler on those super warm days. Besides, doesn’t everyone feel better after eating a popsicle?

At first, I thought my list needed to be much longer but the reality is that I still believe in simplicity and ease. By using just these three survival—nay—thrival techniques, I’m hoping that the summer will be fun, but not over-done, full without being overwhelming. Mostly, I just want to be present. And I’m hopeful that this little list encourages and supports that desire.

Ten.Three Hundred & Fifty-Eight

1. He asks me if I know what time it is. I guess 8:30 but it is 9:30.  

2. Well, I do wake up at 4:30 every day so maybe I needed these extra 5 hours today.  

3. I take a peak at the garden. The tomatoes are choking out the rosemary and the okra. I’ll need to prune them back.  

4. The Fire Next Time.  

5. Well, she is tenacious.  

6. Two little white butterflies off in the distance. The sounds of cars going to and from. I wonder where the deer is and if we’ll see her again. 

7. I think of his words and how he said all the things I’ve been thinking about about people and Christianity and to survive as a black person.

8. It just seems like my heart won’t stop breaking.  

9. I’m not sure I liked the movie but it did make me cry. 

10. We need more stories about death. 

Ten.Two Hundred & Ninety-Seven

1. The colors of this morning's sky: peach and lavender and lemon and sky blue. I'm reminded of rainbow sherbet.

2. The blooms from yesterday's floral workshop are so fragrant. I think it might just be the eucalyptus.

3. Waffles toasted in the oven and bacon and coffee. I sit next to the big kid at the island. 

4. She’s pouting again because there isn’t any prosciutto.  

5. Meal plan + grocery list + grocery shopping + last minute supplies + sunshine + getting to talk to the woman at Michael’s about the retreat.  

6. That feeling of almost being knocked over from gratitude.  

7. Thought we were out of ink. Turned out we’re out of paper.  

8. But the goal is to be in bed before 11 so that I’m not too tired on the plane.  

9. He tells me that he’s excited for me and that we’re going to have fun and it feels good and affirming to be seen and loved.

10. Travel jitters. 

Ten.Two Hundred & Eighty-Seven

1. The grayness is hanging around this morning. There should be rain today. 

2. Three cups in the ceramic blue mug before leaving for the grocery store. I'm leaving later than usual and know that I will miss the little old man.

3. Goddess braids. That sounds and feels right.

4. I seem to have lost track of the day. This happens sometimes when there is much to do. I think it might also be a symptom of a lack of presence. How do we lose time? By losing ourselves?

5. She helps me go through the cookbooks to figure out what to make for tonight's dessert. We go through what's on the rack and then she spots Bouchon Bakery. 

6. A simple chocolate chip cookie seems like the way to go. I have her read the recipe and then we gather the ingredients, get bowls. I tell her that we're going to practice mise en place and then I read to her the ingredients again and the amounts and we talk about fractions and how many scoop are needed to make 2/3. 

7. I have forgotten to buy a present. I really am the worst at these kinds of things. One day I will be better. 

8. Wine and laughter and chicken and salad and wine and more laughter. Gratitude at the table and the counter and the sofa. 

9. And then suddenly it's midnight and you almost wish you could stay longer. 

10. The kids go straight to their rooms, crawl into bed with their clothes still on. I open a window to let in the chill. There is almost no sound.