The school year means routine, learning opportunities, and time with friends. And I’m not just talking about sending my three girls to school. I love the school year because I can catch up with my mom friends during drop-off and pick-up. I also love seeing the excitement in my girls’ eyes when they tell me about something they learned or about the new friend they made on the playground.
This past school year was so different from anything we had ever experienced. My husband and I chose to have our three girls attend virtual school for the entire year. It was challenging, to put it lightly.
As a stay-at-home mom, I was already the chef, referee, chauffeur, and master organizer. With the launch of the virtual school year, I added learning coach to this never-ending list. I loved being an integral part of my girls’ schooling process, but I learned quickly that I was not built to be their learning coach (thank goodness for teachers – y’all are amazing). In fact, my favorite days were the ones where we didn’t have school. No school meant I wasn’t nagging the girls to finish their specials or their Seesaw activities.
As the school year started to wind down, it took all my motivation to care about the girls finishing their virtual school assignments. My heart was also feeling heavy because my girls were missing the end of the school year activities and assemblies that celebrated their dedication and accomplishments. When the school year was over, it was like a 100-pound weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Finally, the “The Summer of Fun” could start!
My goals for “The Summer of Fun” were simple: To find my fun and to love my girls again. I have always and will always love my girls with every fiber of my being. But after a year of living in a house where I was constantly cleaning, endlessly refereeing and cooking, and nagging my girls about what they needed to do, I was over it. I knew I needed to approach this summer differently in order to make it to the next school year. 
To set “The Summer of Fun” up for success, some of my adult responsibilities and expectations had to be pushed aside. I made my girls’ summer chore charts for the handful of things I needed a break from like emptying the dishwasher and wiping the bathroom sinks down. I also made the difficult decision to push the pause button on my health coach business. By letting go of these things, I was able to make room for things that matter like swimming with my girls, our weekly coffee and doughnuts date, and taking them on adventures to the zoo or Arbor Hills. I also decided to take the opportunity to start new traditions (hello Cool Treat Wednesday!). Plus, we are taking a 2-week trip to Chicago to visit friends and family.
For the first time in a long time, I’m not struggling with the summer season and it’s lack of routine. Maybe it’s because last summer felt so different or maybe it’s because I’m finally starting to unearth myself from a school year of survival-mode. Most likely, it’s a little bit of both. Either way, it’s the most important season of my life and I am here for it.
