Lessons from summer

I’ve taken something of a blogging sabbatical this summer. I know I don’t have much to offer on here when my alone time is limited and my energy is waning. So I’ve mainly been serving up snacks, overseeing summer reading lists, playing Whack-A-Mole at bedtime, and refereeing people and pets.

Even though it isn’t quiet or calm (at all), I feel like summer is still a good time for spurts of reflection. Be it in pockets of time at the beach or the lake or even on our own back porches, there is something slower about the pace of these months. Our gears are about to shift into back-to-school mode, but before we jump back on that busy train I want to give summer some credit for being a good teacher.

Here are a few things I’ve learned this season:

I’m still an introvert. I love people and relationships and good conversation. I love my three spirited children. I love my hyperactive dog. I just do better with a little recovery time sprinkled in here and there.

Sometimes I think it’s important to admit realities of this sort so we don’t drown in guilt about not being good at everything. I’m not the best or most fun summertime mom because I can’t wrap my arms around all the spontaneity, the energy, and the expectations for fun and excitement every day. But, hopefully my girls will know that their introverted mom is trying and loves them just the same. Right now, I feel something like the girl on the right by about noon each day:

But, I hope to be sporting a high ponytail and back on my game in the fall!
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The Five Love Languages book by Gary Chapman is still relevant. The five languages are: acts of service, physical touch, quality time, gifts, and words of affirmation. The Spouse and I have different languages. He communicates best with words of affirmation and touch. I communicate better with time and gifts. This makes for an interesting marriage and many an interesting holiday. I have totally blown it more times than I care to admit when it comes to encouraging him. I make a pitiful cheerleader. And, he has showered me with some fascinating gifts at major holidays. See these pants from Christmas 2015 for reference {or read the whole story here}:

This summer I’ve been reminded that my kids have love languages I need to learn to speak better, too. Much like their hobbies and interests, their languages are wildly different. One is more motivated and encouraged by gifts {like cash}, one loves quality time {like one-on-one outings}, and one loves words of praise and affirmation {like “Oh, I love that outfit!” even if its mismatched and out of season}. So, I want to be more mindful of these languages when school and schedules pick back up in a few weeks.

Rosie would like me to add that her love language is food. The more I think about it, this may be a love language for people as well. Mine would be mint chocolate chip ice cream at the moment.
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Speaking of food… I still love Schlotzsky’s. This sandwich/pizza chain used to have a few locations locally, but it left our town several years ago. On the way back from South Carolina last weekend we found one in Georgia, and I couldn’t have been more excited about introducing the girls to one of my old favorites. One summer during college I worked for my dad, and we would regularly go to a Scholotzsky’s not far from his office for a quick lunch. So, there’s something nostalgic about their spongy sandwiches to this day. The girls were big fans. I may just have to start a #bringbackSchlotzskys campaign.

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Old pictures, as in those that are printed out on actual paper, are still a treasure. Dad would have been 73 last week, and I like to think he would sport a party hat and enjoy the occasion if he were celebrating here with us. Maybe Schlotzky’s could have even catered a birthday meal:

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Music is good for the summer soul. I’ve never been great at performance, but I forget how therapeutic it is to sit down at the piano and play just for the fun of it. Earlier this week I was playing “Jesus Loves Me” for the benefit of the Kindergartener and noticed that she was mixing the lyrics with those of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” At one point she sang, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, they are weak but white as snow.”

At least it rhymes, right?

As one who grew up Baptist, I can’t deal with her not knowing how to properly sing the most famous VBS song of all time. So, we sat down and ironed things out. I think she’s back on track now.

The 3rd Grader enjoys piano, and I’m hopeful that all three girls will learn to love it or some other instrument in due time. Learning to read and/or play music really is a gift you give yourself. I’m just glad the Kindergartener has learned to sit rather than stand on the instrument.

I hope your weekend, maybe your last one of the “summer break”, is full of good food, good music, and some people who know your love language!