Speaking of Easy

In all honesty, this week’s felt a little off.
Maybe it’s the weird limbo of returning home after being gone for two weeks.
Maybe it’s that I haven’t quite felt like my healthiest self.
Or maybe—probably—it’s that I’ve spent most of the week alone at home, and my very social self is wilting a bit in the quiet.

Whatever the reason, I just haven’t been feeling the joy this week. And I want to shift that. I don’t want to spend my summer feeling stuck or blah—I want to really enjoy it. To be intentional about finding the good.

Despite the somewhat blah week, I’m still linking up with Momfessionals and A Little Bit of Everything for Friday Favorites! Please check out their posts and scroll down for the full list of linked blogs!

Home with the Pets

Even though it feels like I’ve been home forever, it’s actually only been six days (tomorrow makes a week). And while my 16-year-old daughter has been off living her best life—fully booked and socially thriving—I’ve been mostly here, home with the pets. It’s a big contrast from our week together in LA, constantly on the go, soaking up energy and sunshine and connection.

I’ll share more about what she’s been up to in a minute, but first: the fur babies.

After two weeks away, they were definitely missing us. Our pet sitter is wonderful, but she works and has summer classes, so they’re used to pretty quiet days. That’s probably why I’ve had a trail of paws following me around nonstop—cats and dogs thrilled to have someone (finally!) home.

Teen Summer Adventures

I don’t have any photos to share of my daughter’s summer adventures this week—mostly because she’s been off doing her own thing and I’ve been… not great at remembering to capture the moments. But trust me, her schedule has been packed with goodness.

She’s been working at our church’s Vacation Bible Experience (VBX), which is especially sweet because it’s the same program she attended every summer from pre-K through 4th grade (5th grade was the summer that got COVID-canceled). She loved it then, and now she’s loving it in a whole new way—this time as a leader. She helped with the 4th/5th graders and realized she might actually prefer the younger groups (relatable), but still had a blast with friends and came home each day singing the VBX songs on loop in the car. That part makes my heart sing.

Her social calendar didn’t stop there. On Monday, a friend (with a driver’s license—cue mixed emotions) picked her up for a trip to our local Tea Bar. They even brought one back for me (win!) before heading out for youth group pickleball. Apparently, it was a hit.

Tuesday brought a little schedule mix-up: I thought she had her first behind-the-wheel driving lesson that day… turns out it was actually Wednesday. So we made a spontaneous trip to the small airport near our house, and she got behind the wheel for the very first time—in the parking lot. Nerve-wracking for me, empowering for her.

Later, we picked up a couple of friends and took them downtown for shopping, swimming, and henna. Just your average teen summer Tuesday.

Wednesday was the real deal driving lesson—and she reportedly did great! Meanwhile, I filled in for a babysitting job with my friends’ boys and spent the morning with two very chatty little ones, which was actually pretty fun. That night, she and I grabbed $1 Habit Burgers (reward apps are magical), and she wrapped up the day with a chill night at home.

Thursday brought a VBX pizza party after it all ended, followed by creek swimming at a friend’s house and couch crashing at our house. Then one of her close friends, fresh back from vacation, joined her for our Thursday Night Market. I dropped them off downtown, where they grabbed dinner and reunited with more friends. I swung by to pick them up later (it is good to still be needed every once in a while). A quick stop to grab clothes and say hi to her friend’s parents (who happen to be my friends—bonus!) and the night ended with a sleepover at our house.

So yeah… busy, full, friend-filled week for her. No photos, but plenty of memories. I need to get better at capturing the everyday moments. These small summer stories are just as worth remembering and they will soon be coming to an end as she heads off to college and beyond!

Finding a “new” Summer Rhythm

While her days have been bursting with activity, mine have been quieter—filled with pets, solo lunches, and a little too much time in my own head. I’m so proud of who she’s becoming, how she’s stepping into new roles and friendships with confidence and joy. But it’s also a shift. And like all seasons of parenting, it comes with a mix of emotions: pride, awe, nostalgia, and yes—some loneliness too. It will be an adjustment as we ease into more and more independence for her…and for me.

I hope that you all have had a good week and aren’t suffering in too much heat (my husband is in Michigan working a camp and it has been AWFUL there)! We have been relatively mild for our Summers, but kicking up to triple digits this weekend.

How are you all ending your June and planning for July? What’s your Summer rhythm?