Spirited Essence Works

It’s the beginning of August, and if you’re anything like me, you’re living in this strange space between summer freedom and back-to-school planning. Part of me is craving the return of routine, sharpened pencils, labeled folders, a clean fridge, and mornings with coffee that doesn’t get cold. But the other part? The mom part? She’s soaking up every bit of these last golden weeks, even if they’re messy and chaotic.

This summer has been… a lot.

My husband has been incredible, giving me the space to stay present at work while he took on so much of the parenting load. But even with that support, summer as a family can be a wild ride. Between multiple camping trips, a whirlwind of extracurriculars, snack demands every 10 minutes, and what feels like a never-ending stream of questions (“Can we go swimming?” “Why is the sky blue?” “Can we make slime again?”), it’s no wonder routines have been tossed out the window.

And you know what? That’s okay.

I used to carry this weighty guilt, like if the house wasn’t in order, if the laundry piled up, if we didn’t read 30 minutes every day, I had somehow failed the “good mom” checklist. But I’ve learned something important through so many summers with my kids:

Presence beats perfection every time.

The clothes, the cleaning, the organizing? They’ll get done. They always do. But the slow mornings snuggled on the couch, the spontaneous pool days, the late-night giggles under the stars on our camping trips, those don’t wait. Those are fleeting. And they are worth the pause.

So if your routines have completely fallen apart, if the bedtime charts are buried under coloring books and the fridge is mostly string cheese and juice boxes…give yourself some grace. You are not behind. You are in it. Living it. Loving them through the beautiful mess of summer.

Back-to-school is coming. I’m getting ready mentally and practically. But for now, I’m giving myself permission to breathe a little deeper, hug a little longer, and push the to-do list aside for a few more days of this sweet, imperfect magic.

You’re doing amazing, mama. Hang in there.

And to all the dads pulling the parenting load this summer, especially mine, kudos to you. We see you, and we’re grateful.