This Summer, Say “Yes”

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Do your ever get an invitation that you really want to accept, but you have far too many chores to really allow your self the luxury of an outing?

This is how I was feeling a few weeks ago. Summer should be relaxing compared to the life we live while homeschooling 10 kids, but it feels like there is no room to breathe.

I am usually very good at protecting my low energy state. I find balance between giving to others, and saying no; both with my conscience clear. This summer has been a roller coaster ride. Are you finding it to be the same? I was just asking my husband is this is how time is going to move for us for now on. Warp speed. The month of May bleeding right into the middle of July. Life moves at high speed in this middle stage of life. I need endurance. Errands, chores, and obligations fill up my mornings. Schooling, piano, garden (not so much this year), and making food take up my days. Baseball looms large over summer nights. The calendar is increasingly looking more and more full with no let up in sight.

My mind says protect. My mind says don’t add one more thing, but my mind is a lousy processor when I am overwhelmed. I tend to say no first, and regret it later. So can I make a mid-summer plea? Say “Yes”.

[Tweet “Say “yes” to the good stuff more than you think you should. “]

Somebody save Me!

I had a friend call last week, she invited a few friends over to swim in the pond with their families for the morning. My immediate thought was “No way.” It was the last week of baseball, with a tournament scheduled for the weekend. My husband has been umpiring on all of his evenings off and working extra hours to shift his workload to be able go to games. RUN, has been our theme since the day we stopped school for the summer. I really wanted a day off to catch up. In the end, I turned my friend down. I did not see how play was a good use of my time when I was already on my toes trying to stay above water.

I got a message the night before the event, my friend had an afternoon appointment so we couldn’t seem rude if I wanted to get home. She also passed along an offer from the “Boss”, her husband was going to join us and grill burgers. Another friend called and offered to lend life jackets. One by one my objections fell away and I was pulled in by the love of my friends.

It was not all glitter and rainbows.

I had a crappy, cranky morning. I was not happy about leaving the pile of chores that I failed to get done early in the morning. I had a bunch of work waiting for me when I got home and I was taking my 3 “littles” to a pond. On the way, I missed the turn twice, and then took the wrong trail down to the pond and took a got an unintentional hike. I didn’t want to wear a life jacket. I did not want to swim. I did not have enough coffee. What I am saying was, if I were a toddler, I would have needed a spanking and a long nap. What I got, was much better. I got to float.

I had littles counting on me so I jumped in the water. I didn’t take long for all the crankiness of the last few weeks wash off like gravel dust. I paddled around the pond and wore myself out. I needed to exert myself. I swam with the littles, who are so brave and trusting. We bobbed and floated and raced each other. In an hour, I came out of the water a new woman. My friends laughed and shared lunch while the kids played, my body was nourished, but my spirit was renewed. No regrets. I said yes to the better thing.

This summer you are going to get behind on chores. The laundry pile is going to be insane after a water play day. Dinners will run late and sometimes you will have to be creative, think toast, bananas and Nutella. But Summer is made to be dotted with magical days. Don’t say no. Go hiking. Go to lunch with your friend. Say yes, and let the water wash the dust away from your weary soul.

 

If you’ve chased your “littles” at the lake, or had a rough day at the park, you might like to read the post about our terrible day at the ball park and be reminded why we do these exhausting things to ourselves. Check out when events with kids are not fun

Enjoy the summer and take time to float.

Amber