Back to School
Now that our family vacation is coming to an end, I feel like I am beginning a new year, instead of a new season. The back to school process always snaps me back into a regular routine that summer and vacation has gotten me out of. Many other Moms often feel the same way.
The end of summer becomes for many, not just for moms, a reminder of how quickly summer and our lives pass us by. Our children are going into a new grade and we ask ourselves, “where did the years go?”
The part of summer that I have a hard time letting go off is the laid back, less hectic way of living. Schedules are not as rigid, vacations are enjoyed and everyone you meet seems to be moving at a much slower pace.
So how can you take a part of your summer and carry it over into the fall months?
Take a mini vacation. Vacations do not have to be saved for summer. A few day trips on the weekends in October can be a welcome treat for parents and kids alike. Call it a vacation and treat it like that. Get out your calendar and pick a day. It is always great to have something to look forward to.
Keep a check on your attitude. What is your perspective you carry into the fall months? Is it all about the crazy schedule, lunches to pack, snow coming, crazy Christmas season?? It is our attitude that causes our stress so if you are dreading the summer months coming to an end, do an inventory of what your thoughts are. Maybe it’s time, as they say, for an “attitude adjustment”
Slow down. With fall registrations for activities coming up, our schedules will soon be full. I know for our family, the fall is a very busy time as judo, dance and hockey starts up. Because of hectic schedules, it is very important to remember to take the time to slow down. Make sure you include some time to relax at home. Being busy is fine as long as you enjoy what you are doing and if it is balanced out with some down time. If you or your kids are involved in activities that you don’t ‘LOVE”, consider dropping them. If you are spending time and energy on these things, make sure you really enjoy them.
Summers are amazing and being away from our regular routines is what many of us need in order to recharge. The thing is, if we live for our summers or for our next vacation, it means we are “not living” for the majority of our lives because our summer and vacations make up a small portion of our year. Enjoying what’s in front of us is really what true living is all about. And yes, that includes snow shoveling, making lunches, carting kids half way around the province and fighting with them to do their homework. And on the days when you feel like pulling your hair out…keep in mind “this too shall pass”, pour yourself a Moose Light Lime, slap on some sunless tanning lotion, crank up Bon Jovi’s “Summer Time” and dream of the lazy, hazy days of summer that are just around the corner!
