Thankful for a summer that, at first, seemed so long… so uncertain, so unplanned.
I couldn’t stop wondering what I was going to come up with to keep us busy, how we were going to spend so many days without a set routine. I remember those weeks leading up to the last day of school, searching online for activities to do with the kids, home projects, creative games, crafts… convincing myself we could manage without full-time camp.
And, as always, things found their way. Somehow, summer took on its own rhythm. We created “on the go” routines, some weeks with camp, others sleeping in late and having breakfast at noon, some days spent entirely in pajamas, and others where I complicated things by rushing from one activity to another.
Between remote work meetings, I carved out little moments to take them to the park around the corner, to ride bikes no matter the sticky heat or the blazing sun. We’d hop on our bikes, ride around the block in our pajamas, hair messy… but smiling, feeling the wind, almost as if recharging to keep going.
There were afternoons with the smell of freshly baked cookies… even though they turned out to be a total disaster, sometimes a little burnt, shapeless, and stuck to the tray. Waffles took us several tries before they finally turned out delicious, but with each attempt we laughed, tasted, and found excuses to keep trying again.
There were also mornings when Legos took over the dining table, and nights when we stayed up watching TV until midnight. And, of course, there were also chaotic moments, arguments over who had more ice cream, canceled plans, days when exhaustion got the best of me, and my patience ran thin… but even in those days, I enjoyed it.
Thankful for this summer because it surprised me and because I truly enjoyed it. I felt more present, more connected to each moment. I allowed myself to take breaks that once felt impossible, and it reminded me that things don’t have to turn out perfect for us to enjoy them.
Thankful for the laughter, the sunset walks, the slow mornings, and the conversations over board games. Thank you because, even though it didn’t start the way I had planned, I loved it. It brought me new lessons, reminders that the simple things are what fill us the most, and above all, that time together is the real luxury.
Thankful for the summer that came and went, but left me with a full heart… and with the energy to start a new routine in this school year.
Grateful to have you here, heart to heart.
Melli
