Eye spy: a handful of bursting-with-orange Marigolds, fresh with bloom, in a nearby hanging pot. Confident strands of gladiolus, hot pink in color and increasing in bossiness each day. Children whirl past the house, and their squeals linger among the trees.
Late-night popcorn, eaten in the quiet hours with My Love and our littlest love, while the upstairs crew chase dreams and search for lost toads.
With the turn of my head, I also spy backyard flowers, half-alive as a result of the steady summer heat. Whooopsy on the required daily watering! These backyard flowers, once green, now hang in colors of dull brown and sage… evidence I’ve had my attention turned elsewhere ;)
This is August.
These are happy, color-filled arrows in our backyard, even though some are fading in vitality. It does me good to take notice of them. And so I’m reminded: don’t gaze for too long at what’s fading into the past. Rather, take notice of what is blooming, and spend some time evaluating those things that need extra care.
Because sometimes, that extra care needed is for the caretaker herself.
While I want to see the rosy side of life, and I want to share the happy, rosy stories, what remains is that not everything can be tied up in a bow.
Tasks are sometimes unfinished, questions remain unanswered, and the nights can be very sleepless. But even so, the joy is what remains, and it’s important for me to show that hard and good can co-exist.
/ / /
The play-kitchen is half taken apart, scattered in sections from summer play.
A lounge chair remains flipped over, and no – it’s not in my preferred location ;)
My window panes are splattered with dust, pollen, and elements of the outside: a lone bird feather (so sad, little birdy) and a single stuck-on seed pod (stopped mid-route in the wind).
The crack of a fizzy beverage, and condensation drips on the table race for first place.
This is August.
A birthday gift: an amber glass of beeswax, poured in small batches and since cooled, now slowly melts as I record the day’s happenings.
This is what I know: my youngest is napping. His middle sibling is also napping. Two boys are riding the mower out to the field, trailer attached and laden with garden tools.
Rumbles come from the laundry room, and the near-silent click of my keyboard is heard. My older daughter is reading in the sunroom while August rays flood in.
Naps, outdoor adventures, laundering, and reading.
This is most definitely August.
Weekly beach trips, pockets full of sand. Bathing suits, beach towels, cold chicken salad with cherries stirred in. Pringles and sunglasses, and late nights with the family. Back rubs and stacks of books, sweeping the front porch and serving homemade limeade.
A symphony of cicada begins as we lull ourselves to sleep.
/ / /
August. You are a sweet month of what-has-been and what-will-be. August is a transition month as we slow down on the wild summer play and prepare for the growth education brings. For us, homeschooling is reading and hands-on lessons; books in every room, always.
Trips to the library are year-round, and our schoolroom of six never fails to bring roars of laughter; sometimes tears and stomps. The month of August is sweet and savory, a welcome mixture of our favorite delights.
As I prepare to begin my seventh year homeschooling, here’s what I know to be true: raising children who love to learn begins with parents who love to learn. And learning? It’s a blend of being in the present while up on tip-toes at the future.
Cheers to you, August.
xx, Maggie
Enjoyed your posts. Loved the quote “Remember, their childhood is your motherhood.” Summer is almost over! Love you!
It is almost over! And I’m not sure how I feel about that ;) We’ve been here for a few years now and it’s true: each season in Petoskey is unique and beautiful. What a gift that is!