Photo: Stocksy United
Summer has become the sweet antidote to my increasingly frenzied life. Without the mad rush to find missing mittens or that form I was supposed to sign, mornings are calmer. We gladly trade the harried dining experience of back-seat bagels en route to lessons for relaxed picnics in the park. Baths are purely optional?a dunk in a pool or a leap through the sprinkler counts, doesn?t it" Bedtimes stretch later and later. The pace is slower; we have more fun; we?re happier.
The rest of the year, my husband and I feel like we?re constantly spinning plates. Meeting the needs of two kids while juggling all the demands of two challenging careers leaves us either finishing chores or dealing with work emails past our own bedtimes, or waking up with drool on our faces, three episodes too far into our latest binge-watch. All too often, I find myself yelling about how late we?re going to be or stressing about dinner or worrying about how they?re going to finish their homework. By the time my kids are finally in bed, I feel like I?m starting my third shift of the day, too tired to get to all the things that need doing. I wanted?actually needed?to find some way to make that summer feeling last, even during September madness. It was clear we needed an organizational overhaul. At work, when a team needs help with project management, my boss brings in consultants to teach us how to prioritize and meet deadlines. It made perfect sense to do the same for my home tea...