Hot August Night
The unseasonably cool summer has given way to the steamy, sultry weather typical to DC at this time of year. Another season of interns and congress and everyone else escaping the city, while those of us left behind muck through the stagnant, oppressive heat and look forward to the return of crisp fall air.
As a child, I eagerly anticipated the return of the school year. I loved finding out who my teachers and classmates would be, planning what I would wear for the first day of school, shopping for new binders and notebooks, and wondering if my friends would even recognize me with my new perm / braces / haircut / tan /etc. (Shockingly, they always did.)
And, truth be told, I have finally- at the age of 28- admitted to myself that I am a nerd. So I confess that I enjoyed the routine of the school day, the busyness of extracurricular activities, and even the challenge of learning Spanish / geometry / world history / grammar etc.
This year, I look forward to the end of summer because Simona will restart her “school year” at Little Learners Playschool. Though I have absolutely loved having week after week with absolutely no structure to it, I am ready for a return to a bit of a “routine.” Don’t get me wront- I have loved the relaxed mornings at home while Andreas learns to crawl, Simona dances to “Muffin Man,” and I do chores around the house. Time at the playground has also not been scarce, and we have done our share of museums/ (water) spray parks/ zoo outings/ recreation center visits/ playdates with friends. And we won’t be THAT busy with school two mornings a week.
Still, it’s time. I need the routine of “having” to be somewhere on a regular basis, and Simona will benefit from seeing her little friends on a set schedule. We will all be forced to be a bit more efficient about getting ourselves out the door some mornings and about using our time wisely, which encourages discipline and order. (In addition to embracing my nerdiness, I have also embraced my German half and believe with all my heart that “Ordnung” is a good thing!)
I’m hoping that my rediscovery of discipline will include greater consistency in my priorities and better time management. And, for you, my few but faithful readers, I hope this will translate to more frequent updates of the “photos” page.
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Other thoughts: I started to write a really heavy post about some issues a few friends of mine are going through, but I didn’t have the emotional energy to do the subjects justice. Let’s just say that a few friends are struggling with issues relating to childbearing and could really use prayers and positive thoughts. These people and their challenges weigh heavily on my heart, and I am humbled by the lack of control we have over the situations life throws our way. Savor every silver lining, but cry with every friend who’s hurting. Painful, but real.
