DOing Summer, BEing Mom

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The kids and I commenced our summer break almost four weeks ago, and it’s already starting to fly by. It’s not so much the weeks that are fleeting as it is the days. At the end of almost every day, I feel like there simply weren’t enough hours in it. The mornings which were being spent homeschooling have now been filled with a little casual time for cleaning up or making phone calls or whatever, followed by a trip to the YMCA for my workout (a relatively new addition to my schedule). By the time we get home and do lunch and I take a shower, it’s already mid-afternoon and time to start thinking about supper or Little League commitments or visiting the construction site of our new house.

And then there’s the non-negotiables like cooking and cleaning and doing laundry and chore training and character training and… oh my, I have to stop before I give myself an anxiety attack.

There are so many things I want to do this summer. I want to do and see and experience all that Des Moines has to offer. But I also want to chill with the kids at the pool and snuggle on the couch with them while they read and help them through their Creating a Masterpiece art videos and look them in the eyes and really hear them.

Visiting Construction Site

Summer gets busy because there is so much fun to be had in just a short span of time. It seems that if I’m not careful, I might ­“do” summer so hard I forget—or run out of time—to just do life. And that is exactly what I don’t want to happen. I want this to be a summer of memories. A summer of familial growth and bonding. A summer more precious than any we’ve had before.

But you know what that calls for? It calls for slowing down, not “doing” more. I like summer bucket lists, and I usually have an unofficial one of my own. Goals are great, and focus is necessary. But this year, I don’t need more to-dos. I need more just-bes.

I want to be available for my kids. I want to have energy for my husband. And I want to take care of me so I can enjoy taking care of them.

We are living in what must be the most on-the-go time in the history of the earth. We have lots of places to go, whether physically or virtually, and we can get there fast. I heard a shocking statistic on the radio this weekend: according to one study, the average attention span is now down to eight seconds. Eight seconds! In our fast-paced, socially distracted world, I don’t want to be that mom who is there but not there. Or there but so busy doing that I’m not really being.

This summer, I’m embracing the sentiment impressed upon my heart: to spend less time focusing on what and where and more time focusing on who and how.

DOing Summer, BEing Mom

In the midst of all the doing and going of summer break, how do you plan to be just being?

3 COMMENTS

  1. I love this post, Angela! Very thoughtful, enlightening and encouraging. I’m making this my summer mantra, too 🙂

  2. I can completely relate to this post. There is soooo much I want to DO and ACCOMPLISH this summer but I also want to just BE in the moment and REST and REJUVENATE our souls. It’s a balancing act for sure but hopefully after the first few weeks of trying to drink in all summer has to offer (after being sequestered for months by winter) we’ll be able to find our groove. Blessings to you and your littles as you enjoy the next few months of summer break!

  3. […] The “Let’s Make Memories” Summer Mom remembers her childhood summers with fondness and seeks to create the same memories with her kids. Quintessential summer activities like roasting marshmallows, catching fireflies, and lighting sparklers top the list along with vacations, roller coasters, and bar-be-ques. The “Let’s Make Memories” Summer Mom thrives on photo-taking and tries to get lost in the moment instead of letting the moment get lost on her. […]

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