Summer’s Funeral

I have mixed feelings about the kids going back to school.

On the one hand…..

I absolutely love the summertime! Besides the weather, I enjoy the longer days, the time spent outside, and the quality time with my kids. Honestly, I love any time spent out on or near the water! And I particularly enjoy going for a walk or a run early in the morning without having to wear my headlamp because the sun is already above the horizon.

The other night, my husband and I decided to take a quick dip in the pool under the stars. The water was refreshing and the sky was crystal clear. It was a gorgeous night with the crickets and the frogs singing to us in the background. As we were toweling off, I said something along the lines of, “I’m going to miss our night swims and our fire pits….” and then I continued to list everything I’ll miss about summer. 

Like I was reading a eulogy.

And my husband called me on it. He said, “Don’t talk like you’re at a summer funeral! We still have plently of summer left.”

And he’s right. Summer isn’t over until the end of September. We often associate the beginning of fall with the start of school, but that’s not true at all! There are still plenty of longish, warm, and sunny days left to enjoy! It’s just that the hustle and bustle of the school schedule can sometimes get in the way….

But on the other hand….

I am getting a little sick of the summer shuffle to my kids’ various activities and camps. Every week in the summer is different, depending on where my kids signed up to be and when, leaving me to scramble and balance work in between it all. Honestly, parenting and working is a balancing act anyway, but there is something about the irregular schedule that can be exhausting in the summer. 

Take today, for example….I woke up to drive my son to his sailing practice about an hour away, two hours round-trip. When I got home, I had just enough time to check my email before my daughter needed to be at her camp. I drove a much shorter distance, but it was still about 40 minutes away from my desk. I sat down to work for about a half hour and then I was out the door for a meeting. By the time I returned home, I only had about 20 minutes before I started working with students. When that was done a few hours later, I had to drive to get my daughter and son all over again. When I returned home, it was time to feed everyone dinner! I didn’t even touch my to-do list all day, which is why I am continuing to work in the evening as my household settles down for the evening.

It’s a lot.

I’m ready for the back-to-school routine to kick in….where most days have a fairly predictable schedule, and I will maintain the pretty much the same routine through the winter.

But….on the other hand….

Wait how many hands do I have? 

Seriously, I told you I had mixed emotions.

I’m sad the summer season is going to end.

I’m happy and relieved to be back in the regular routine of school again.

But I’m also overwhelmed by the back-to-school demands! I’ve already received quite a few emails from school with forms to fill out, information to know, important dates to mark on the calendar, and activities in which I am required to participate! I can’t keep track of it all and if I don’t write it down, it will be forgotten! I have an incredible amount of sticky notes with things I need to remember all over my house….

The change of seasons is just tough! I feel like as soon as I get into a routine, it all changes on me. 

But….on the other hand (last one, I promise!)....

How grateful am I that I get to experience it all? 

I get to be present with my kids all summer long, enjoying time with them, hearing their stories about camps and their friends, and taking them on warm-weather adventures! I get to see them grow and change as they learn in school. I get to cheer them on at sports games, tell them I’m proud of their accomplishments, and see them thrive with their friends! My kids make me feel so incredibly proud. I am one lucky mom!

Can you see what I’m trying to do here? I’m following the advice from American author and poet, Celia Thaxter who said,

“There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.”

So while my thoughts about summer ending can feel funeral-esque, I am aware that summer will return and I know that I have enjoyed every minute of it this year. The best I can do is feel all the feels, embrace them, and express my gratitude for the time I’ve been given.

With that, I will carry the “life is good” summer attitude with me for eternity….which sounds pretty good to me!