That Poolside Summer {living summer sacrificially}
Before you throw tomatoes and roll your eyes at me for whining about the sacrifice of sitting by the pool all summer, take a calming breath and give me a chance.
I don’t prefer the pool. Given the choice, I’d choose the beach or a park or a hike for some outdoor summer fun. Granted, the beach requires the same amount of effort and the exact same prep as the pool, but the beach is nature. It’s sandy and glorious. The waves crash and breeze whispers secrets of lands far away. The tides change the beach daily, so there is always something new to discover. The beach is God’s gift to this mountain-state native. (And I still love the mountains.)
I have six kids who love the pool, and a husband who offers an impromptu Sunday afternoon trip to the pool over a trip to wander on the beach. And so we’ve been at the pool every week, more than once each week. Yesterday it was twice; for swim lessons and for play. And since my children aren’t all old enough yet for me to let them play while I sit poolside and chat or read, pooltime is still “vigilant Mom time” and “fake it till you make it” play-in-the-pool time. 
This week my boys are in swim lessons. We’re here every day. We’re here on Sunday afternoons. I’ve found that the sacrifice of “my time”* to spend some extra quality fun time with my family (even though I spend time with these kids 24/7) is worth it. *(still haven’t finished that quilt from two years ago, still have photo books I want to complete, still have dreams of iced coffee and reading a book on lazy afternoons)
I’ve joined my littlest boys in the water to help them overcome fears and watch my 5yr old show off his skills from his first lessons. Friendships are being made on our pool days, courage is found (big boys learning to swim in the deep end!), lasting life lessons about being prepared are being learned.
It’s not just the pool time. Archery camp, a leatherworking class, and gymnastics practices also fill the pages of my planner. All these hours I imagined for blogging, memory-keeping, sewing, and inviting adult women over for coffee and a Bible study? Filled up with memory-making, character-forming (can’t have a summer without some sibling squabbles, can you?), movie-watching (screen-free summer didn’t last and I don’t feel a bit of guilt over it), music-listening, and laundry-folding (why can’t laundry go on summer break?). We’re exploring tide pools and hiking (gotta drag them along for a bit of filling up my soul, right? It builds character in their young hearts to find joy in places they first thought would be boring). I’ve brought three of my older kids on runs with me, and walked 30 miles in the evenings with all the kids (that was a great habit in June).
So, yes, I’m whining about giving up my time (again), and not being able to finish any projects (still determined to work on a baby book and a quilt…just as soon as swim lessons end), but I’m also so grateful to be a part of these summer memories with my kids. And even as “seasoned” as I am, there are some lessons in summer living for me, too.
Always have extra undies on hand for the 5yr old who packs his own swim bag.
Backyard camping is legit.
Watching 80s movies with teens is hilarious.
It takes me at least an hour to finish a blog, which is why I don’t have time for it often anymore.
Dinners still need regular planning. (It’s getting old being at the store 3-4 times a week.)
Boys love to help and they need to help. At least mine do–it’s like mental health care for them to be needed and helpful.
Cereal can be an acceptable dinner appetizer when the hangry monsters are about to rage.
Always plan at least 10 extra minutes to get out the door.
Going the extra distance and making extra time for others is worth it.
There is always something new. Always something to marvel at, always a gift in the day. Sometimes it’s a sea lion.
Making time and space for time in prayer and silence is necessary.
Hi! I’m new to your site. I just saw your comment on another blog and thought I would check it out. I’m a Catholic mom blogger as well 🙂 I love your pictures. I do disagree with you about beach versus pool haha. Beaches have the gradual entrance which is nice with littles, but the SAND! Not more sand! Our town has a quarry rather than a pool. My kids love it. I weep silently a bit inside each time. But I could spend my life in a pool. It is rough with littles though. My youngest is under 2, so this summer we haven’t done much swimming. Next summer though…
Anyway, nice to meet you!
Hi, Amanda! Thanks for stopping by. So funny how we all appreciate different things. I love the sand, sinking my toes in… haha. I hope you have a good end to your summer! 🙂