this summer list

This summer.

This summer I want to turn the sprinklers on for my kids and run through them with them. 
This summer I want to let them have ice cream for morning snack.
This summer I want to laugh more, play more, and listen more.
This summer I want to slow down and watch my boys scooter around.
This summer I want to take morning walks with my older girls.
This summer I want to take them to the park more often even if it's work.
This summer I want to take the boys fishing in the mornings at the lake.
This summer I want to make berry shortcake  with whipped cream for dinner.
This summer I want to make homemade lemonade and sit on the deck it with my family.

This summer I want to make sure that those little times, those pedals and pushes, and late afternoon hours playing together before a muggy thunderstorm rolls in really matters - in fact, really happens.

After all, look at them. Growing up.

Right in front of me. First they crawl, and then the walk, then they run, then they ride their bikes, and scooter, and on and on growing. Every day. One step older, one more moment of letting go. One day, the stop sign will still be there, but the six year old racing off on that old big wheel will not.

This summer I want to scooter next to them.
This summer I want to take them with me to a garage sale and let them pick one thing out.
This summer I want them to see me reading. A book.
This summer I want to play catch in the backyard.
This summer I want to blow bubbles with my Samuel and let him chase them.
This summer I want to swim in the lake with them and not worry that it's too cold.
This summer I want to read a book to them in the morning and not be on twitter.
This summer I want to remember to slow down.

But, if you are like me, we lose track of that thought. We get stuck in the short sight - all we need to accomplish or finish or what they're not doing right or what needs to change or what we're making for dinner - that stuff. And we lose the idea that this day, this moment, this big wheel ride to the stop sign and back, this matters.

Yes, we absolutely have to do all the short every day to day stuff, there's no way around it - the dishes, cleaning, baking, folding, driving, etc - it's just part of life. But, we could get stuck only doing the to-do list and missing those moments that we'll want to remember. Are we really wanting to look back and remember that we got all those dishes done or the laundry was perfectly caught up or we sent that perfect tweet for this summer of 2012?

This summer I want to pay attention to the mom watch my cool trick moments
This summer I want to look with wonder at that bee in the flowers and the butterflies in the echinacea.
This summer I want to look them each in the eyes and tell them how much I love them.
This summer I want to take my olders to see a late night movie.
This summer I want to buy a jiffy pop popcorn and let my little boys watch in wonder as it blows up.
This summer I want to make smores with my family. In our own backyard.
This summer I want to surprise everyone with a whole watermelon for lunch
This summer I want to rest in the grass and look for cloud shapes with my four year old.
This summer I want to take them to the used book store to find the perfect summer book.

It's too easy to race through the day, being busy, and than get to the end of the day when the littles need to go to bed and to realize that less then ten minutes of time was really spent with them. Summer, despite the lazy hazy days of summer line has the tendency to actually race by with it's own form of busy. And, if we're not intentional the summer could pass, this summer, without accomplishing many of the things in our hearts that we want to do.

Make a list, my friends, make a list. Sit down, take ten minutes, and ponder what you really want to do, what would matter to your family, to others this summer.

This summer I want to camp in our backyard with them sleeping in the tent.
This summer I want to read with them, not pushing it off with busy, but grabbing the book for now.
This summer I want to take them to Dairy Queen and let them order what they want. Just once.
This summer I want to play cards with my daughters late at night.
This summer I want to continue helping the boys make their fabulous hideout.
This summer I want to teach them more about the garden and let them help.
This summer I want to sit on the front porch reading books with them.
This summer I want to really share the truth about Memorial Day and remember.
This summer I want to worry less about the dirt and more about the heart.

You've got your to-do lists. Now, add a this summer list. I've shared with you a bit of my list in progress throughout the post. Will you check everything off? Probably not. Will it make you more intentional? Definitely yes. Before you know it this summer will be gone - summer has a way of doing that - grab this time, this summer - and really intentionally live capturing those moments that matter and that you want to remember.

What would you put on your list?
To read my series on Intentional Parenting simply click 10 Days of Intentional Parenting to start at Day One.
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Linking my miscellany this summer list thoughts with my very dear friend Carissa.

slow down mom

Hello, mom? Do you see me? Me? Elijah, your four year old?

I know I'm busy. I know it. I know last night at church I ran outside and found the swingset and that I forgot to tell you that I ran out the door. I know. But, mom, I didn't do it to annoy you, bother you, and in fact, I didn't even do it to be disobedient.

I just wanted to be big.

You see, all the older kids went outside and played and ran and I just wanted to be out there with them. Plus, it was rainy most of the day and I wanted so bad to play on that swingset. Ours is old and we don't have a slide and this swingset had all of that cool stuff.

Sometimes mom, I just need you to slow down. I want to be big, and I'm growing and some day I'll be able to run outside with those old kids and you'll be okay with it. Because I'll be old enough then. I keep working and climbing and growing. But, mom, if you don't slow down a bit you might miss it. I don't want you to say things like if only I had slowed down or why did I let the unimportant become the important when I'm big.

I know you're busy, mom. Well, I kind of know it - you tell me it. You know, the in a minute, Elijahs and the not right nows and laters and such. But, sometimes, mom, those times just don't come. I still love you. Don't worry about that, mom. I just wish that me, Elijah, didn't have to always wait for those minutes.

I like to spend time with you. I want to play and read books and run and do slap-jack games. And, it's okay that you don't slap right away and let me slap first. I like that about you, mom. I do.

You're really important to me. You make me meals and clean up all my messes {and sometimes you don't complain even} and wash my clothes and work really hard for me. I know that when I get bigger that I'll know how much you did for me. I'm just little still. So I don't know it all yet.

But, you do a good job. I'm just busy and forget to tell you. You slow down a bit and I'll tell you more. You'll be able to listen because you'll be less busy. See sometimes you're so busy that you don't get all the hugs that I want to give you. Or you don't hear my stories - remember Elijah's Book of Stories? - well, I've got so much to tell you, but I really need you to listen. Not be so distracted.

I know you write to other moms sometimes, and that's good. Moms work hard. Make sure to write about how I don't like you on your phone or the computer all the time. Sometime is okay, it's good. Just not all the time. I want you to be here for me, okay? So, remember that means slowing down just a bit.

I love you mom. You're my mom. Exactly the mom that is perfect for me. All my friends moms? They're perfect for them - totally perfect. Just like you are for me. You are the perfect mom and you don't have to worry about having everything perfect.

{By the way, I love that you named me Elijah, and that you think about my name and even joke that my precociousness is because I was named after the Elijah in the Bible who prayed down fire. I'm full of fire and joy and zest for life. You do a good job remembering that. Most days - although do I see you make an extra cup of of coffee on those other days.}

I try to be good and do the right choices. I try really really hard. Just like you mom. Just like all those other amazing moms out there. I think that's it, mom, it's the trying. You tell me that - try hard to make the right choices and pretty soon making the right choices will be a habit. Don't stop trying. Even if you have a challenging day with me. Just keep trying. Seeing me. Slowing down a bit. Loving me.

'Cause I love you. Mega.

What would your kids tell you to do? Slow down? Listen? Laugh?

*****

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