The Busy Season

Recently, I was talking about the seasons of life. Things are really busy for my kids over the next few weeks and months. It is nearing the end of the school year. The baseball season has started - multiple games and practices every week. My daughter’s annual theatrical production is moving into tech & dress rehearsals (if you have ever been involved in theatre, you know!)

I find myself constantly checking my schedule. Have I missed anything? What time do I need to leave? What about traffic? Does my daughter need the car that day? Which days do I have to wrap up work early? Do I need to adjust my work schedule? Do I have my workouts, walks, and yoga scheduled?

Things feel like a constant workback schedule. If I need to be at X by Y, then A, B, and C need to happen by (fill in all the blanks).

All the while, I must remember to prioritize my wellness and self-care to show up in the best possible way because there is great beauty and joy in all of this. I am consciously aware that my kids are teenagers and will be moving onto the next phase of their lives soon. But for now, I will relish in this busy season.

The car rides to and from baseball are wonderful times to connect with my son. How is he feeling about his performance/the game/team/coaches/umpires? What is happening with him? What did he do in each specific class that day? With him, I need to be very specific with my questions, otherwise I get monosyllables.

With my daughter, all I need to do is listen. She’ll talk. She’ll spill all the tea. Frustrations, joys, complications, what’s good, what’s not. I give her space and she just goes. When she slows, I can ask clarifying questions and dig into the details if I am a little lost or behind, because teenage drama can be A LOT!

So this is how we ebb and flow. This is how I stay intentionally connected and grounded with my kids during this busy season. Oh, and food prep helps too because everyone’s got to eat!

I’m curious, how do you maintain strong relationships when you are busy and stressed? I love learning from others, so please let me know.

Be well.