The New New Year

I am solidly in the segment of the population that as soon as it's September and we have one or two days of "cooler weather", I am grabbing leggings and boots and scarves and googling "fall family activities in my area." FALLELUJAH! I'm not built for hot summers. I'm definitely basic enough that autumn is my favorite season, I fully embrace sweater weather, and I love a good cup of spiked apple cider.

Another reason I love fall: back to school! I loved school all the way through college. The promise of a new year, new teachers, fresh school supplies...it all felt like a good reset after the summer where there was no schedule (some people embrace this...I am not one of them). Now that 2/3 of my kids are in school, I love back-to-school season even more. Last year was a huge punch in the face when we spent the first half of the year doing virtual school...it wasn't the same feeling. But this year...I practically danced my way to drop my third grader off! So many parents have sad feelings about the first day of school, but I never really have. When Reid went to kindergarten, I did tear up a little, but it was because I was proud of him and so excited for him to begin his journey with school! It probably helps that my kids are weirdly independent, and really haven't had much trouble detaching from me and doing something else. Hmm, maybe that's actually not a good thing? Oops.

When the leaves start changing, I feel this impulse to organize, clean, and shift into a different mode. It's hard to explain, but I guess I can sort of equate it to the New Year. For me, late August/early September IS the new year, because we operate on the school calendar. There is a tangible shift in my house during this time - I switch out clothes, home décor, the type of food I'm cooking (hello, soup!), and even my mood. I'm usually happier. Again - I am not a hot weather person. I do not enjoy sweating unless I'm exercising, and even then, it's not my favorite. I like sweaters and cute jackets better than tank tops. But aside from the weather, I think my mood is just a reflection on what is happening around me. I like a schedule. I like knowing what to expect. I like patterns in our weeks and being able to plan things ahead of time. Call me controlling or Type A, but I know myself.

As much as things can get busier during this season - with school, sports, extra stuff in the evenings - it feels calmer to me. I don't schedule as much "extra" stuff because I tend to embrace the downtime more. There aren't as many get-togethers, random guests over for dinner, glasses of wine in the backyard with friends, etc. I enjoy the break from being so social during the summer. It also allows me to take a breath before ramping back up for the holidays.

To me, this season is more than pumpkin spice, colorful leaves, and apple picking. It's a reset, a literal and figurative breath of fresh air. New school clothes and supplies signal new possibilities for my kids as they navigate another step toward becoming adults. I, too, have new possibilities that seem to appear more vividly this time of year. This year in particular, I'm embracing it. Happy New New Year, everyone!

Stay safe. xx