This summer verses last summer has been very different. Last summer, I made pretty canva schedule hung up for all to see the routine we were going to follow. 

This year, I sat down and thought about what this season would hold for us, and the main words that came to mind were freedom and flexibility. All of the kids are potty trained. They all eat real food. Only Millie naps and if she needs to, she can skip it.

Lord willing, come October, this will change dramatically for us as we welcome a new baby into our family. There will be feedings and naps and diapers and a sleep deprived momma. I know that we will stick very close to home.

I find this ironic because a month or so ago I released a blog post all about how to make a routine for your kids. I talked about how grounding it can be. How much it can help with the constant asks for snacks and screen time.

I just didn’t realize that for my family, we needed a structure break. We needed a 180.

This summer has felt like a needed breath of fresh air and freedom, knowing that August brings school for John Robert and with it all the routines of fall. Final weeks of summer, we are soaking you up. And no structure in sight.

(This seemed appropriate to share especially with the Monday Mantra being what it was this week. Maybe this summer you needed structure, maybe you didn’t. No one knows what you and your family need like you do.)