End Of Summer + Back To School

A common theme in my life right now is in between. I find myself standing in two places. 

 

I shared about feeling in between at the beginning of the summer/end of the school year and I am feeling it again as summer wraps us. 

 

My mind is thinking about getting ready for school to start again. But my heart wants to be present right now for every moment of summer we have left.  

And then I read this post from House of Turnberry and it put my predicament of in between at ease.

Back to school calls for more flags. 🇺🇸

Hear us out.

We love fresh florals as much as anyone… but there’s something about this time of year that makes us reach for little American flags instead.

Maybe it’s the last stretch of slow summer mornings.
Maybe it’s football season around the corner.
Maybe it’s that classic, all-American feeling that still lingers long after the Fourth of July.
Maybe it’s our children learning the pledge of allegiance for the first time.

Whatever it is, swapping florals for flags just feels right, this time of year.

And if you ask us… we’ll keep them around for a little while longer.

American flag 

So here I am taking decorating advice and making it a life metaphor. It felt like I needed to "clean up" summer in order to get ready for the next season. Instead of just embracing where I am at - one foot in one season and my other foot in another.

House of Turnberry has this vintage Americana feel that I really love. Feels a bit Ralph Lauren but I have a bunch of kids and want to be whimsical. And it so naturally transitions to the more subtle elements of fall (not all the Halloweeny stuff). All this to say, it was permission to embrace where I wanted to be: present. 

pencil banner

I'm nostalgic. I'm a planner. Sometimes it feels like I can only be one or the other. And then I get sad. 

So I am learning that maybe being present means enjoying the right now that is so good and full and beautiful. But reminding myself that change is also so good and full and beautiful. 

Being a mom feels like constant heartbreak. I can choose to be busy and do all the things and then miss it. But slowing down allows me to be present and savor. But it also is a slap of reality of how quickly the days pass away.

So I am just going to be right where I am at. American flags still out and also sharpening pencils. I also think that decorating early allows me to enjoy things. I will continue to be in denial about school for a couple of weeks and then it will hit me and we are going to need to get ready. But when we are rushing around, little moments of happy back to school vibes will already adorn our home. Reminding me of the goodness and joy to come. 

It is a reminder of what is coming and what is going. For me...and my kids. Two seasons at once is okay with me if it helps me be more present and enjoy right where I am at.

I also love this other quote my friend Caley of Alexa Lily shared:

Planning has never just been something I do – it’s how I create space for what matters most.

So I am planning now so I can be present later. Creating space for what matters.