Oh Barbara, I'm glad, and I'm humbled by your kind words. I have lived through a years-long season of not being physically well, so I understand how hard it is -- and how flat it falls -- to try to be present, especially when the present is uncomfortable or even painful. I think anything we can do to be kinder to ourselves is worth the time and effort -- we all deserve that, not because we've "earned" it in any way, but because it's our birthright as humans.
Hope you can hold on to the positive energy. Take good care.
Haha! We’ve had a week of 70 and everyone is so cheerful (and washing all the linens and getting things dry on the line) and it’ll be back to normal rain next week.
I hear you! I love the experience of pools and Csa’s but summer can be so stressful for families as the schedule changes every day and the pull between work and time with your children feels like a bad game of tug a war. Thank you for sharing summer books as I love to read everything about the ocean with my children. I had not seen the Ocean is Blue yet and I am already ordering it.
Summer is such a nightmare for working parents. Thankfully this summer I'm not traveling -- last year I did something like 15 trips between June and October and I refused to do that again -- so I'm hoping to enjoy a slower pace.
I also love reading about the ocean with my kids -- though we go to Lake Michigan instead, which is a perfectly fine inland ocean of sorts, but lacks the same creatures, of course. In my 2021 special edition on summer, I included a whole list of titles about the ocean, lighthouses, beaches, and boats (down near the bottom), if you want more suggestions of that kind: https://canweread.substack.com/p/can-we-read-special-edition-summer-9f5
You're welcome! I'd love to hear if you find any titles you really enjoy. (My kids were totally obsessed with The Sandcastle that Lola Built by Megan Maynor a few summers ago.)
Summer is my least favorite of the seasons, and I am slowly learning to love it, and in fact, like it now. It used to a dull ache of inaction in the home I grew up in, and as someone who craves interaction with a healthy dose of inside reading time, summer threw me off. Now, the bounty of an heirloom tomato and basil, and reading under a pavillion are enough to keep me going.
I am starting with not complaining (as much as I used to; baby steps) in a slow, concerted effort toward love. (I'd also settle for deep like; we don't have to get crazy here.)
These are wonderful recs--I just requested Healer of the Water Monster. And you KNOW I am always here for Wendell Berry! I'm so glad we have that in common.
Your opening about your love/hate relationship with summer should be written into a children’s book! I can just picture you and your husband discussing your yard as the sun goes down and twilight sets in.
Also, Swashby and the Sea is one of my absolute favorites to read aloud.
You know how I feel about summer, Sarah. I love your practice of finding things to like about it. It is supposed to be 95 here tomorrow and I can't even put into words how much I hate it. I will be in my AC cave. But I will also be trying to get up early, to stand on the porch and listen to the birds before it gets too hot—to like that beautiful moment for what it is. (And, also, just here to validate expressing dislike for summer. No one thinks twice about doing so for winter!)
Thank you for being my partner in summer-hating crime, Laura. I really am trying to shift my attitude, even just a smidgen, because I don't like the idea of suffering if I can control it, you know? I don't want to spend the next three months complaining, either. (But in my heart of hearts, you know how I feel about summer, too 😉)
I fully support your mission! It sounds like you are doing it for your own well being. I have...pivoted in the other direction, I'm afraid, and just lean into summer-hating all the way. (Though I do truly love some things about it.)
This is so poignant: I don’t love summer — I probably never will, though I will never give up trying to be a better person. But I am committed to the practice of being present to a great enough degree that I can recognize — even revere — the rich depth of every season, even this one, and remember that I am undeniably, unaccountably lucky to be alive in this resplendent, irresistible world.
I'm constantly working on this and, like you , will never give up trying to be a better person.
And I've requested all of these books from the library. Thank you as always for the recommendations.
I struggle with the heat too, so it's comforting to read this. I actually feel uplifted by the sunshine, but can't take being outside in it.
I see that you reviewed my Leo Can Swim in your selection of swimming stories (though I can't seem to see the review) but you'll love the new Leo story (out any day) even more. In Leo at the PARK, you'll see his Mom who thinks it's hot hot hot and can't wait to get under the trees in the park. Leo moves from hot to cool all day, and Mom watches and supports from the shade (with occasional forays into the sun).
Wow, thank you so much for leaving a comment, Anna — I’m a huge fan! The review is behind a paywall but I promise I raved about Leo Can Swim — my kids and I just adore that book. Looking forward to more Leo (and Lola) books!
Oh Barbara, I'm glad, and I'm humbled by your kind words. I have lived through a years-long season of not being physically well, so I understand how hard it is -- and how flat it falls -- to try to be present, especially when the present is uncomfortable or even painful. I think anything we can do to be kinder to ourselves is worth the time and effort -- we all deserve that, not because we've "earned" it in any way, but because it's our birthright as humans.
Hope you can hold on to the positive energy. Take good care.
Come to Scotland, you'll only get a full week of summer!
Believe me, if I wasn't a die-hard Wisconsinite, it's tempting...
Haha! We’ve had a week of 70 and everyone is so cheerful (and washing all the linens and getting things dry on the line) and it’ll be back to normal rain next week.
The first day it's 70 degrees out I'm reminded that we're all just animals -- we respond to warmth and sunshine. Truly.
I hear you! I love the experience of pools and Csa’s but summer can be so stressful for families as the schedule changes every day and the pull between work and time with your children feels like a bad game of tug a war. Thank you for sharing summer books as I love to read everything about the ocean with my children. I had not seen the Ocean is Blue yet and I am already ordering it.
Summer is such a nightmare for working parents. Thankfully this summer I'm not traveling -- last year I did something like 15 trips between June and October and I refused to do that again -- so I'm hoping to enjoy a slower pace.
I also love reading about the ocean with my kids -- though we go to Lake Michigan instead, which is a perfectly fine inland ocean of sorts, but lacks the same creatures, of course. In my 2021 special edition on summer, I included a whole list of titles about the ocean, lighthouses, beaches, and boats (down near the bottom), if you want more suggestions of that kind: https://canweread.substack.com/p/can-we-read-special-edition-summer-9f5
I will check the list out and maybe just take it to my local bookstore! Thank you for sharing it again.
You're welcome! I'd love to hear if you find any titles you really enjoy. (My kids were totally obsessed with The Sandcastle that Lola Built by Megan Maynor a few summers ago.)
Summer is my least favorite of the seasons, and I am slowly learning to love it, and in fact, like it now. It used to a dull ache of inaction in the home I grew up in, and as someone who craves interaction with a healthy dose of inside reading time, summer threw me off. Now, the bounty of an heirloom tomato and basil, and reading under a pavillion are enough to keep me going.
I am starting with not complaining (as much as I used to; baby steps) in a slow, concerted effort toward love. (I'd also settle for deep like; we don't have to get crazy here.)
These are wonderful recs--I just requested Healer of the Water Monster. And you KNOW I am always here for Wendell Berry! I'm so glad we have that in common.
Hope you enjoy Healer of the Water Monster!
so excited to look into these!
Your opening about your love/hate relationship with summer should be written into a children’s book! I can just picture you and your husband discussing your yard as the sun goes down and twilight sets in.
Also, Swashby and the Sea is one of my absolute favorites to read aloud.
Oh boy, me and Matt in a picture book; can you even imagine 🤣🤣
I love Swashby and the Sea. I feel Swashby so hard 😉
You know how I feel about summer, Sarah. I love your practice of finding things to like about it. It is supposed to be 95 here tomorrow and I can't even put into words how much I hate it. I will be in my AC cave. But I will also be trying to get up early, to stand on the porch and listen to the birds before it gets too hot—to like that beautiful moment for what it is. (And, also, just here to validate expressing dislike for summer. No one thinks twice about doing so for winter!)
Thank you for being my partner in summer-hating crime, Laura. I really am trying to shift my attitude, even just a smidgen, because I don't like the idea of suffering if I can control it, you know? I don't want to spend the next three months complaining, either. (But in my heart of hearts, you know how I feel about summer, too 😉)
I fully support your mission! It sounds like you are doing it for your own well being. I have...pivoted in the other direction, I'm afraid, and just lean into summer-hating all the way. (Though I do truly love some things about it.)
Whatever floats your boat, as my husband would say 😊
Love these picks, Lemonade for Sale was always a favorite with my kids , Tricia Tusa's illustrations are so fun!
Thanks, Meredith! My kids LOVE that book — there’s just something about it.
This is so poignant: I don’t love summer — I probably never will, though I will never give up trying to be a better person. But I am committed to the practice of being present to a great enough degree that I can recognize — even revere — the rich depth of every season, even this one, and remember that I am undeniably, unaccountably lucky to be alive in this resplendent, irresistible world.
I'm constantly working on this and, like you , will never give up trying to be a better person.
And I've requested all of these books from the library. Thank you as always for the recommendations.
Thank you, Darcy 😘
I’d love to hear if there are any titles you all particularly enjoy…
I struggle with the heat too, so it's comforting to read this. I actually feel uplifted by the sunshine, but can't take being outside in it.
I see that you reviewed my Leo Can Swim in your selection of swimming stories (though I can't seem to see the review) but you'll love the new Leo story (out any day) even more. In Leo at the PARK, you'll see his Mom who thinks it's hot hot hot and can't wait to get under the trees in the park. Leo moves from hot to cool all day, and Mom watches and supports from the shade (with occasional forays into the sun).
Wow, thank you so much for leaving a comment, Anna — I’m a huge fan! The review is behind a paywall but I promise I raved about Leo Can Swim — my kids and I just adore that book. Looking forward to more Leo (and Lola) books!