Summer Recap

I haven’t written all summer. I am sure if you are reading this it isn’t news to you. I started off the summer craving a bit of a break in my creative mind. Starting The Organized Social, I didn’t realize how much of my creativity it would pull. Adding clients has depleted what I had to offer here, and I needed to figure out how to move forward. I love this space and intend to keep it in addition to creating for others, so I spent a lot of this summer developing a plan for balance.

Since May I have taken a few breaks from Instagram too. I was able to spend the majority of my summer with the kids, growing The Organized Social and just getting back to some of the things I love doing like cooking.

So, what has been happening…

Kids.

The kids are going back to school today. The school opted for a Safe Start Method for the beginning of school year, this is similar to how Montessori schools start, so they go today and then again on Thursday. All three kids are in three different schools, and I have two riding the bus. Paxton played basketball in the Summer Leage and his team _________. He and Porter will be playing flag football this fall. Peyton was able to do a summer enrichment at his school in July which was a big commitment for him to go everyday while his brothers were home.

Justin.

He switched jobs in July. June was filled with a lot of uncertainty about where he was going to go. he had several options which was awesome, but it left us with a lot of decisions as each job was very different. In the end he opted for a fully remote position with no travel which means he is home all the time. He is happy to be able to be home and coach Paxton’s football team again this fall.

Me.

Transition to working mom this summer was different than last. Last year I was working for Pelican Athletic Club part time as their event coordinator. I resigned from that position in the spring as The Organized Social was picking up. It has been different for me and a learning experience to be the parent who is out of the house working more. Justin is now breaking up fights at home and making lunches while I am out seeing clients. I love that the transition has been mostly easy as he is glad to see me doing something that brings me so much satisfaction.

Family.

We started going to family therapy this summer. I talked a bit about this a few weeks ago on Instagram. We, Justin and I, had gotten to the point where we were really feeling frustrated parenting. We weren’t feeling like we were connecting with the kids, especially one in particular. What started with me going to therapy with that one kid has now morphed into all of us going together as a family. We both feel like it is really helping us communicate with the kids as well as one another. Many of the strategies she has given us to start communicating and stop yelling have been things we were able to use in our own communication. While no situation will ever be perfect, I do feel like it is the most satisfied I have been in the job I am doing as a wife and mom in a long time.

I will add this. Working toward a gentle parenting or connected parenting method in your home is hard and it is exhausting at times. It requires a great deal of commitment out of you and your partner. I am glad that Justin and I are on the same page, but it requires a lot of intentional work on yourself in order to be successful. It can, at times, be mentally draining as you are using all of your efforts to keep yourself calm and from regressing into old habits. Again, it is not like we have mastered this, but I am so proud of the work we have done this summer. Hands down it is the best thing we invested in.

Just in case you want to see the video here it is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Tiffany King (@wefivekings)