Tag: summer

6 Things I Learned This Summer

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We are knee deep in fall around. We’ve already made our first trip to the pumpkin patch and as much as I want to post pics of pumpkin patches and write about my favorite fall things, I need to address summer one last time.

I’m not missing summer. In fact every day that reaches over 80 degrees, I quietly curse under my breath. I just want to wear leggings, boots and scarves, ok?

As I delightfully embrace my favorite season, I am reflecting back on summer and what it taught me. I got this idea by following a favorite writer and podcaster of my mine, Emily P. Freeman. She does this seasonally on her blog.

I honestly tried not to overthink these. These are the first 6 things that popped in my mind.

1.) I don’t ever want to cut my hair short again, ever. The last couple of times I’ve chopped my hair, I’ve loved it at first and then proceeded to grow it out. This last time, I cut it a bit too short and my only goal has been to grow it out. I think I’ve finally learned my lesson. No more above the shoulder cuts for me!

2.) I’m not a rush here, rush there kinda of girl. I’m not a schedule busting at the seams; but thriving off the hustle kinda gal. And that’s okay. I’ve never had a busier summer and it ran right into a very (unexpected) stressful August and September. I still haven’t recovered.

3.) Kids are really resilient if you give them a chance. You know that term “lawnmower parent”. Instead of “helicopter parenting”, we now mow the way clear of any struggles or obstacles? I’ve been guilty of that big time. I’m watching my kids experience disappointment and discomfort, knowing it is character building for them and fighting the urge to clear the path for them.

4.) Every show set in England is so much better to me! Father Brown Mysteries on BBC (Netflix for me) have been such a delightful find for me this summer.

5.) Podcasts are my new favorite. Emily P. Freeman’s podcast, The Next Right Thing is a weekly must for me right now.

6.) I am honestly terrified of saying “no” and letting people down. I knew it was a struggle for me; but this summer revealed that I’m down right scared. Unhealthy? Yes. Something I need to work on? You betcha. Big Time!

Reflecting is good, necessary really. Are there things I’ve learned in this last season that will help me make decisions going into this new season? I think so.

Though my summer was maybe a bit too busy, it was filled with good things. I spent time with family and friends. I saw new places and I’m so very thankful. Here’s to maybe a tad slower fall?

My (Slightly Ambitious) Summer Reading List

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Is summer winding down already?? The schools supplies have taken over Target, fall sports are starting up again and yes, kids are going back to school. Our summer break ended just a couple of week ago and I’m still working on my summer reading list. Before my summer got all crazy, I wrote up this blog post. So can we just pretend that I posted this blog post when I wrote it, way back in June?

Mmmm, okay? Great.

I’ve got so many great books to share with you but first……… let me be honest. Or rather, let me be honest with myself. I’m not going to finish all these books this summer.

I would absolutely love to; but since it’s a struggle to get my one book read for book club each month, 10 books seems a bit of a stretch. Granted I’ve already started a few, one is super short, and I’ve finished one on the list already.

But let’s be real.

I have kids. Laundry. Feeding of said kids. A husband. Netflix shows to binge watch. Blog posts to write. Instagram feeds to keep up with, (check me out at theaccidentaldomestic on Instagram) Friends. Playdates. You get the idea.

But still….I dream.

Whether I finish these books this summer or this year (or next summer), here is the line up. Enjoy.

Have you read any of these? Share your thoughts. Are there any on the list you’d like to read?

Books I’ve Started And Set Aside And Would Now Like To Finish

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

I started this book months ago, maybe even last summer. I had to set it aside to keep up with that month’s book club book and never got back to it. So, I’m picking it back up. This is a fiction read that seems pretty interesting so far.

Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Make for Strong, Confident and Capable Children by Angela J. Hanscom

I’ve enjoyed this non-fiction read every time I pick it up. I go highlighter crazy when I get into it.

Books I’ve Just Begun This Summer

You Carried Me by Melissa Ohden

This is the book club book we will be discussing in August. I actually just finished this one. It’s a memoir of woman who knows that she is adopted, but finds out that she miraculously survived an abortion. This was a quick read and I enjoyed it. Being Pro-Life, I really appreciated this woman telling her story so honestly and sharing how God redeemed relationships in her life and brought healing.

Daring Greatly by Brene’ Brown

So far, I’m loving this book. Brene’ Brown is all about research and backing her findings with years of collected data. While very straightforward; it really dives deep into how shame can and does control our lives, our decisions and relationships. It’s been a very thought provoking read so far.

Looking for Lovely by Annie F. Downs

I listen to Annie’s podcast, This Sounds Fun and really enjoy that. Reading her book is a lot like listening to her talk. I’m enjoying it so far; and am sure I’ll have more thoughts on this as I get closer to finishing it.

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World by Kristen Welch

This book.!!!! This book is a must read for every parent. Absolute Must. So far, this has been the best book I’ve read so far this summer.

Books I Haven’t Started Yet

Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson

This is a non-fiction/ parenting book. Seeing as the previous book is a parenting book as well, I may push this book to the fall.

Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick

She spoke at our Womens’ retreat this past spring and it was one of those moments where my thinking about and view of Christ really changed for the better. I saw my relationship with Him in a way I hadn’t before, so I really wanted to read the book that our retreat was based on.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

This is another book club pick for the summer, so I’ll start reading this closer to the end of summer. We will be discussing it in September.

Oils of the Bible by Erin Rodgers

This book is super short and more of an educational one for me. I can read this in one sitting; but wanted to include it in the list. I’m going to Young Living’s Convention this week, so I’m going to take it on the plane and probably read it then.

Not Pictured But Would Still Like To Read

I have a lot of non-fiction on my list and really feel like I need another good fiction book in the mix. I can only read so many non-fiction books in a row before I need a break.

Also, I’d love to read a good biography.

If you have any suggestions for a fiction or biography, drop them in the comments.

Follow me at theaccidentaldomestic on IG or Facebook and to see how I’m doing on my stack of books and reviews of them as I finish.

Update: At the time of posting this these are the books I’ve read: You Carried Me, Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World, Looking for Lovely, Oils of the Bible, and the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (almost).

Hey Mamas, Trust God, Time and Levi

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One week ago, today, Henry learned how to swim.

This has been a long time coming.

Four days before his 8th birthday, I prayed and prayed, “Lord, let this round of swim lessons be the ones that finally click for him. Let this be the summer that he overcomes his fear of the water.”

Last week was a week of milestones for our family. Some big and some small; but definite milestones.

I’m still processing all the things (which is why you are getting this post today); but I learned a lesson that I’ve been in the process of learning since I became a mom.

The lesson is this. Kids are going to do things in their own time. There are some things that you just can’t push or rush. You have to give them time, trust God (And in this case, trust Levi. Don’t worry. Explanation to come.)

I’ve been taking this kid for swim lessons since he was 3. While he had great, patient, wonderful swim teachers (Thank you Grace and Paul! You are a BIB reason why he is swimming sans floaties right now. All those years of positive experiences in the water, finally paid off!), we’d end each week long session with him still afraid to let go of his teacher in the water. Still not swimming.

We’d swim throughout the summer. And maybe we could have exposed him to the water more often. I felt like we went to the pool often enough, though. Yet, at the end of each summer he was still wearing the floaties and still afraid to let go in the water.

So a few things contributed to him swimming: I think a huge part of it was just maturity and growing up. Every kid is different as when it will click for them whether it comes to reading, getting potty trained, or swimming.

Also, peer pressure. Nothing motivates you faster than seeing all your friends swimming in the deep end without floaties. Parents, don’t underestimate the power of positive peer pressure.

Lastly, I think God drops people into your life to speak to you in a slightly different way than others have before. You hear it, accept it, or just connect with a person in a certain way. You may have heard a message a million times; but a speaker delivers the same message in a different way or when you are in a different place in your life and IT JUST CLICKS.

We only had 3 days of swim lessons for an hour each day. My hopes were high but realistic.

Fortunately, we started these lessons off with him fully putting his head under the water right from the get go. But as Levi pointed out, Henry had a death grip (and he does). He was not letting go.

It’s kinda hard to learn to swim in the deep end if you don’t let go of the hand in the shallow end.

After the first day of lessons:

“Levi is not going to let you sink, Henry. He just isn’t. Even if you began to sink, he’s right there. He’ll pull you up. You just have to trust Levi.”

“It’s hard to trust, mom.”

“I know, babe. That’s the whole thing, though. That’s what trust is. It’s not easy. It is hard. You can do it.”

Second day of lessons:

Levi: “Henry, you just have to make up your mind that you are going to do it and then just do it.”

And he did.

He let go.

He swam. Across the shallow end of the pool.

He then wanted to learn to dive off the side of the pool. And he did.

He made the decision to trust and he just did it.

Or Levi has some sort of magical super power. Either way, the kid swam!

Later that day he was jumping off the diving board into the deep end, without floaties, and swimming like he’d been doing it for years. I was flabbergasted. I was grateful. I was doing a happy dance. I was so proud of him. I was relieved.

The third and final day of lessons was like watching a completely different kid. Where did this fearless guy come from? Two days later we were swimming at Morton’s Warm Springs with family. We had just picked up Lily from Jr. High camp and he surprised her by jumping into the pool without his floaties. Her face was priceless. His face was full of pride.

We asked him, “What made you decide to let go and just swim?”

Henry: “Mom told me to trust, Levi.”

Are you laughing? I am. It’s taken 5 years, and I don’t necessarily think he would have been swimming at 3 if Levi was his teacher. I think it was the right time, the right swim teacher, and it was God’s plan to use this experience to teach my little guy about trust. This is the first of many times, he’s going to need to trust God. Andy and I are going to be able to use this lesson with him for years to come. Hey, God is using Henry’s swim lessons to teach ME about trust.

I hope I remember all this when my kids aren’t doing something in the timeline that I feel is appropriate or convenient for me.

Hey Mamas, as you go into this week, whatever is happening too fast or too slow in your life just remember, trust God. Are your kids taking way too long to learn a lesson or don’t seem to be improving at all? Trust God’s timing. Trust is as equally simple as it is hard.

Are your kids needing to learn to swim? Give Levi a call.

Summer is Here: A Simple Summer Checklist

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Well I’ve been in summer mode for about a month now; but the first day of official summer was just about a week ago.

So far our summer has been BUSY. We hit the ground running and we have squeezed in a lot. (I need a day or two to relax from summer vacation!) We’ve hit Yosemite, had sewing camp, VBX (I was a leader this year=I am one tired mama.), swim lessons, 2 birthday dinners, and 1  birthday party. And by the end of this week, we’ll have tacked on two birthdays parties and another birthday dinner to that tally.

Hold on. I’m just catching my breath.

A lovely summer head cold has had me parked on the couch for a few days. Though this was not my idea of relaxing, it has enabled me to get back to the blog and focus on what our summer schedule will be, once our summer slows down.

Our summer schedule has just been organized chaos. Now that things are slowing down a bit and we will actually be home, I need some sort of structure. Nothing too rigid or scheduled; but more of a routine.

Here’s my Simple Summer Checklist. I’m trying it out this week. Want to see how it goes? Follow me on Instagram.

If you’d like to download my super simple Summer Checklist. Just subscribe to The Accidental Domestic and you will get the free download. Easy. Peasy.

Already a subscriber? I’ll be sending you your free download this week.