Autumn is here! One of my favorite seasons for sure. ✨🍂❤️ (To me, there’s something special about each one.) Sweater weather, boots, pumpkin flavored everything, festive activities, my daughter’s birthday and Thanksgiving make for a fun couple of months. A couple weeks ago, I was nowhere near ready for this time of year; however, one weekend, we went to a Fall Festival where it was cooler, cloudy and overcast. There was popcorn, mums, caramel apples, carnival rides, pumpkins and I was excited for all of it.
Even though we’d JUST gone to a festival that day, I was already talking and planning to visit the next event on the same weekend. During dinner, my husband and I were discussing all the things we wanted to do as well as all the things that needed to be done. We came to the conclusion that we probably didn’t have time for another festival.
I was a little sad at that prospect and started thinking about all of the things I would be missing out on by not going to this event. Then my son looked at me and said, “You can’t do everything you want to do.”. 😮😂😍 The way he said it wasn’t t mean or harsh but a joyful fact. I ALWAYS tell him this when he is upset about not getting his way. He can’t do something fun after we JUST did something fun. I don’t say it to crush his dreams but to instill in him that despite things not going your way, there is always something to be thankful for. Thanksgiving is only one day a year but in our home, we try to teach our kiddos to be happy with what we have year round.
As a parent, I try to live out what I am teaching the kids. (Not always. Sometimes I eat candy before noon when they aren’t looking. 😏) So this season, I am taking my own advice. Making peace with the fact that I can’t do every picture perfect activity for the ‘gram that I’d like to. It’s exhausting and after a while, my kids don’t even understand how special these things are but just come to expect these events as another thing we do. I still plan on going to a pumpkin patch, apple picking, and some other fun things but I’m not going to let my to-do list for the “perfect” fall season overtake me.
Here’s to taking it slow and enjoying the little things. I’m sure we’ll do some fun activities but if we miss out on some things that’s fine too. I’ve been learning more and more it’s more important who you are spending time with than what you are doing. I just want to enjoy the time I have with family and my kiddos at this age, regardless.