Vermont Summer
by Ashley Weeks Cart
Last week I was in a funk. We’ll call it post-vacation high slash parent/child-separation anxiety. The combination of adjusting back to a full week of work in the wake of an amazing trip abroad coupled with Sunny’s absence gave me the grumps.
Bleh. Meh. Guh.
In addition to my own adjustment back home, our household has been under much transition as James has returned to full time work after four years of part time employment. With Sunny headed off to Kindergarten and Courtland headed to her first year of real preschool, we both felt ready to be working full time, and James’ part-time employer was eager to have him 40 hours a week. But to throw a wrench in things further, he was just hired for a new, more compelling position that will challenge and stretch him professionally, intellectually, and personally. I am so proud of him and so very excited for him, but it is not without it’s growing pains. We need to adjust to this new normal of two full-time working parents with more intense work responsibilities. James is no longer the default grocery shopper, lawn mower, food preparer, clothes launderer, kid wrangler.
Needless to say, last week I was moody and unmotivated. I came home from work and ate nachos (I justified this behavior with the fresh cilantro, tomatoes, corn and jalapeños I sourced from our backyard) and wallowed in self-pity and marathon Netflix series. I didn’t want to edit photos. I didn’t want to weed the garden. I didn’t want to go for my daily walk. I just wanted to curl up under the covers and feel sorry for myself and bemoan my Fitbit’s pitiful step count (which of course was my own doing).
I was a delight!
Fortunately, James’ patience, Kaki’s sweetness, Sunny’s return, and Vermont’s summer have restored my energy and outlook. We spent the weekend with dear friends and engaged in many a Vermont adventure that breathed life and motivation back in to my routine.
How I love our Green Mountain State.
^^S’more roasting with Auntie K after a day at the pool and a meal inspired by our vegggie garden brought smiles to everyone’s marshmallow coated faces.^^
^^James met baby Graham, and relished in the baby handling.^^
^^The girls discovered the fascination and fun of a shuffle board.^^
^^And the joy of tubing, especially when said tube is the size of a living room and guaranteed to prevent unwanted spills.^^
^^Plenty of QT with Graham and his parents and his grandparents who were all so fun and welcoming and wonderful with our girls. Sunny and Kaki keep asking when they can go back to play. Such a special a day.^^