A Love Letter To Summer

Dear Summer,

You’ve finally arrived—and not a moment too soon.

This morning, I woke up with a smile already on my face. Just an hour into break, and I could already feel the difference. The calm. The exhale. It’s like the tension I’ve been carrying all year finally loosened its grip, and suddenly, I could breathe again.

In fact, I felt so clear-headed and at peace that I decided today was the day to potty train Violet. Yep. She’s been ready for a while—I however was not. But now, here we are: me, my coffee, and a naked toddler watching TV while I silently beg the universe for just one successful pee in the potty. It’s messy and chaotic and weirdly joyful. And the best part? I’m not worried about going back to work Monday. I have time to show up for her fully, with no rush and no stress. That is the gift of summer.

This break feels extra sacred this year. The school year was one of the hardest I’ve ever had. We endured unimaginable heartbreak and constant challenges that drained every ounce of energy I had. If you want the heavier story, you’ll find it in the post before this one. But today? Today is for the light.

Because this summer, I’ve got big plans. I’ll be deep in rejuvenation mode—but also hustling hard for my side hustle. The blog, the writing, the goals that have been simmering quietly while I taught, parented, and juggled life at full speed. They’re getting my attention now, fueled by caffeine and ambition.

There will be days full of family time at Grand Lake, lazy hours digging in the sand, and ice cream eaten by the water. We’ve got our annual trip to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival on the calendar, weekly mountain bike rides (solo and with friends), and a glorious parents-only weekend getaway in July—thank you, grandparents! I plan to remember who I am beyond snack-fetcher and tantrum negotiator.

There will also be long walks where I don’t have to carry anyone or pick up items constantly being thrown out of the stroller. There will be cleaning my house in peace. I repeat: in peace. There will be hot coffee, deep breaths, and maybe even a finished thought or two. And sure, there will still be chaos—because two kids ages 2 and 5 doesn’t exactly equal tranquility—but this season? It’s the closest thing I get to restorative balance.

This is what I love most about teaching—not just the time off, but the time on with my family, with myself, with the parts of life that matter most and too often get pushed to the side.

So here’s to the summer of slowness, sunshine, ambition, and healing. May it be full of sticky popsicle smiles, good sleep, dirty bike shorts, and the kind of joy you don’t even realize you’ve been missing until it finally shows up.

Love,
A Very Grateful, Very Caffeinated Teacher-Mom