I thoroughly enjoyed Dotti's post earlier this week, reminding us of the days of summer gone by and to step back and do a little more exhaling. Ah yes, exhaling. I do need a little more of that in my life. But her post also got me thinking about the changes that summer brings to my house.
I work from home. Most of my day is spent solving the world's problems through teleconferences and email. And from September through May, once my children leave for school and my husband for work, the house is quiet and peaceful.....it's just me and the hum of my computer. But come June, the transition occurs and my children are home all day (with their sweet babysitter). The peace and quiet is replaced with playing, laughing, shouting, stomping, singing, creating, building and occasional crying.
I have to admit that once the summer schedule begins, it takes me a few days to acclimate to the increased noise level and the little noses pressed against the windows of my office doors. But I've realized these are changes I wouldn't get to experience if I worked in a regular office.
Who in an office gets to hang out in an elaborate, multiple room, blanket-and-chair tent while taking a break? Who in an office gets to enjoy the jokes and conversation of an 8-year-old, a 4-year-old, and an almost 2-year-old while eating lunch? Who in an office gets to be interrupted by frequent requests for tape, scissors and the stapler (because apparently, the tape, scissors and stapler from the office are much better than the tape, scissors and stapler elsewhere in the house)? Who in an office gets kisses blown to her through her office doors while on a teleconference?
I consider it a blessing to have my peace and quiet interrupted during the summer. Those sweet interruptions won't be around forever!
What about you.....is your peace and quiet interrupted during the summer? Or is summer when your peace and quiet begins? Or do you never seem to have any peace and quiet no matter the season?!!
Don't forget to keep those abstract photos coming! The gallery is full of such interesting shots!
18 comments:
Stephanie, I work from home as well and it is a big adjustment when school's summer vacation hits! A lot more interruptions, but I agree with you - a lot of fun too. Taking a dip in the pool with the kids on lunch break, coffee breaks surrounded by floating bubbles,etc. Definitely noisier, but that's ok too!
I always loved the summertime when school was out. I was a stay-at-home Mom when my children were little and I welcomed the fun of summertime. Our schedules were put to bed for the summer and we just had fun, swimming, movies, library time, baseball. No alarm clock was set, we just went with the flow of summertime!!
My summers while my kids were growing up were very much like Deanna's. Being a stay-at-home mom, I enjoyed having my kids around all summer and all the fun that we had together. Now that they're grown, I have my grandson all day during the week and we are having a great time together -- going to the movies, playing board games, swimming, and the like. I am so glad I have the time to spend with him. My son's summer hours for the gym he owns means he closes down from 12-3 every day and he has been coming over to swim as well, so I get some time with my "big boy" too. Love the lazy days of summer!
I'm learning to enjoy my summers. I used to be busy with work through the end of July so I always needed to have my kids occupied all summer with camps. But I'm starting to slow down in the summer and it's so nice being able to spend time with my kids and not have plans. Such an adorable photo of your kiddos!
And that shot of your kids peeking in your office windows is adorable!
Beautiful shots, Stephanie. Summer. Hmmmmm. Summer means salmon fishing to me. The water temperature gets too high to fish trout (oxygen levels fall and it stresses the fish so we stop at 20 degrees - Celcius). Then we head further afield for the big fish, Atlantic salmon. Oh my word. I just realized my life revolves around fish. You knew that. It's okay, it's okay...
How fun to know you work from home too! It's a wonderful change of pace to have the kids home and I think it makes me more productive because I want the work day to end so I can enjoy the summer days with them!
Summer is great for that, isn't it! We don't set alarms during the summer either (although the kids tend to get up early anyway) and bedtimes are much more relaxed! Summer makes for a good pace of life!
How wonderful that you not only got to enjoy your kids during the summer but now you get to enjoy your grandson too! My kids have a day each week that they get to spend with their grandma and they absolutely love it!
It is OK!!! :-) Not being a fisherwoman myself, I always love to hear about your adventures.....the stories are welcomed anytime!
Sweet, sweet, photos, Stephanie! And you've perfectly captured what summer should be about: A change of pace and whatever that means to you. It's so wonderful that you're able to work from home with your young children, a real blessing.
While my daughter was school age, I was working outside the home, in a very busy job. In fact, in that case, "change of pace" meant busier. Ugh! That has a lot to do with why I promised when my granddaughter was born to do everything I could to help them summers, after school, holidays, etc. Since we live only a mile apart, it's very doable. This is the first summer I've had with my granddaughter since I retired. After being a bit apprehensive about having her all day every day, I've actually found that the summertime change of pace suits us both to a "T". We're having a ball!
Thank you so much, Stephanie,for your thought provoking post ... and continue to enjoy those sweet young 'uns before school opens again! (Then we'll be writing about how much we miss them!)
xo
Dotti
Oh, I love these photos!! Your children are blessed to have you so near! Most of my summer will be peaceful and quiet, but I'm looking forward to the noise of my four grandsons who'll be visiting for a week! I love the sound of them being in the house; their laughter and even the occasional argument and tears! Its precious noise to my ears!! I especially love the "I love your, gramma" that I can't get enough of!! After they go home the house is almost unbearably quiet!!
It's wonderful that your pace at work is slowing a bit to allow you some "plan free" time with your kids! I'm sure they love being able to hang out with you too!
What a blessing to have your grandchildren visiting for a week! I'm sure I will feel the same come september.....missing the little voices and interruptions to my day!
Thanks, Dotti! It's always tough to balance working life with being a mom. I'm glad to hear you are enjoying your summer with your granddaughter....sounds like you two have found your groove! Are you just watching her for the summer or will you get to extend that into the school year too?
How lucky you are to have your children near you while you work! I'm sure that you and they will treasure the interruptions! After a month of summer camps and VBS for #1 grand daughter, I'm now going to be settling in for the daily summer routine with my 2 little grand daughters-swimming, library, movies, snow cones and just being silly and having fun!
Such adorable kids you have, Stephanie!
xo,
Linda
I'm late here, probably because it IS summer, and things have not been so quiet at my house! I'm feeling a bit busier than when they were in school and my son's strength and conditioning is putting a dent in any summer sleeping in plans! lol
Love your photos and reminder that the interruptions are good and that everything else mostly wait...
KerriAnne
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