The Summer Shift

This summer with no move to settle from or fellowship to partake in, I shift my focus solely on my children’s care. Of course my focus is always there. But this time feels more precious with them in school.

I’ve made my mind up that I have lots to teach them in the “summer school” of home. How to fold their laundry, how to organize and purge the house, how to speak to each other, how to listen. I can only do it by listening, myself and by being present.

Echo, Nali, Amanu and I went on a FIVE MILE bike ride on the trails near us. We didn’t end up where I thought we would. But when we stopped for a break we found a clearing and a wide spot of the stream.

Sitting with my feet on the mossy rocks, I wondered about my ancestors who knew simple joy such as this: hot feet in a cold stream.

The kids got soaked, and shrieked at the possibility of seeing snakes. (We did see one.) The girls tried to capture crayfish. While Amanu sat in the sun with me, observed the fish, and a resting Tiger Swallowtail butterfly.

The first aid kit for outings like this is complete with this gel.

When we returned home from our ride we read books and surprisingly, the kids begged to go to the pool. That was my loose summer plan: trail in the morning and pool after lunch, but I was surprised that they weren’t exhausted!

We all swam and enjoyed the coolness of the water. I felt grounded, and safe at our neighborhood’s pool. It has never felt less than welcoming. Grounded and safe are sensations I particularly needed to cultivate and I am happy for the benchmark of my healing that realization provides. The perfect summer day.