“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” ~ Matthew 11:28
Every year, I tell myself that summer is going to be slower. And every year, somehow, the calendar fills up.
As a mom of two kids who are now 15 and 12, I’ve found myself looking at summer a little differently lately. When they were younger, summer felt endless. There would always be another trip to the pool, another park playdate, another summer ahead. Now, I realize just how quickly these seasons pass. In many ways, summer feels even more important now than it did when they were little. The older my children get, the more I value the simple moments together. A late-night run to our favorite ice cream spot in Morrison, a pick-up game of Wiffle ball in the backyard, or sitting on the patio playing cards. Even in those quiet evenings when everyone is doing their own thing, but we’re all together under the same roof. Those moments usually don’t make the social media posts, but they are often the memories I treasure the most.
Working in early childhood has taught me that children don’t need every moment planned. They need space to imagine, explore, create and wonder about the world around them. They need time to be kids. And as parents, we need the time to simply be with them.
I think sometimes we hear the word “rest” and imagine doing nothing. But maybe rest isn’t always found in an empty calendar. Maybe it’s found in being present enough to enjoy the moments God has given us.
Leave room for backyard adventures, conversations that can happen unexpectedly, and moments that can’t be scheduled. Those are often the moments where faith grows and where relationships deepen. And those are the moments our children will remember long after summer is over.
Childhood moves quickly. Whether your children are preschoolers, elementary students, or teenagers like mine, this season is a gift. My prayer for all of our families this summer is simple:
Slow down when you can.
Soak in the little moments.
Make space for God to meet you there.
Sometimes, the most meaningful memories aren’t found in the big events, but in those ordinary moments that we almost missed.
