Connecting
06 October 2015
We had a really busy summer. August, which feels like ages ago now, was almost filled to the brim with camping or getting ready for it. We had more nights under canvas than at home. But rather than feeling like it was an out of control frenzy it was all rather relaxed and immensely enjoyable.
In the depths of winter it is really difficult to say no to opportunities that will take us camping. Despite my best intentions I have often ended up with a really full diary for the six weeks that the UK schools are on holiday in the summer months. In past years the weeks we were at home would be business as usual, going out to our groups, meet ups and other activities, and in between shoehorning, not very successfully, preparation for going away. It was all rather stress inducing.
I remember, when I had not long entered the world of work, many colleagues moaning about how they hated their jobs. My naive twenty something self often wondered why they didn't just look for another one. But there is something reassuring and comforting about the familiar even if we don't really like it.
I know that I have always had in the back of my mind a time when I was at home so much it became overwhelming. A very young baby and giving up work to enter our new venture into officially home edding my eldest, I had yet to find my way around the home edding community, it was really isolating. But tipping the balance the other didn't work for us either.
So when I realised that we had nothing in the diary for the weeks in August we were to be at home I didn't, for once, try and pro-actively fill them. I went with the flow choosing whatever came up that would work for us all. That relaxed planning meant that I was able to get ready really slowly and steadily and that when I got to where we were going I was relaxed. Many a time I have been away on 'holiday' only to feel like I need another one when I get back!
We have visited some beautiful parts of our country. We spent time walking, talking and admiring the views. We had one day of rain the whole time, now don't get me wrong I don't dislike rain but when you are camping it can be really hard work. It didn't matter how long anything took to do, well most of the time, there were a few occasions we had to be somewhere at a certain time. When we got completely soaked one evening cycling to meet with a group I managed to turn it into an adventure, one which we laughed about later. We lived in the moment, connected to each other and our surroundings.
Now that is all over I am also glad to be at home. For the first week I didn't look for activities to fill the diary. I did worry that the 'we are staying at home today' answer to 'what are we doing today' would be met with frowns but not a bit of it, not even this far down the line. We were far too busy in our rhythm by end of July, one group has finished completely and another has yet to start yet, this feels so much better, for now. I am sure it will change as it always does but I do need to gently remind myself to keep space in that rhythm for nothing planned. It is no good keeping your head above the water if you not able to swim gently but are struggling to remain afloat.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Good for you. A period of unplanned, unstructured time is really beneficial for all of us, parents and children alike. We often choose to stay at home when we could be out doing more, and it always seems to be the best choice on reflection. I rarely feel like I'm missing out.
ReplyDeleteI think I did, feel like I was missing out, in the past which is why the diary got so busy. Choosing to stay at home still feels a little odd but I am loving it really!
DeleteWhen my kids were young they used to love staying at home with nothing planned. Young minds can be over stimulated and it's good for them to have to come up with their own activities sometimes. It sounds like you've got a good balance.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right that children can be overstimulated. I do work hard to ensure that doesn't happen but I know that so many parents don't.
DeleteI'm glad to see that you are sharing here again!
ReplyDeleteGood to see you back again. I am glad that you are finding the balace between having nothing to do and getting boired (fat chance!) and having a diary filled with things so that you have not down time at all. Sounds ideal how you have it now. I think that it is a good sign when one returns from a holiday or days away feeling glad to be home.
ReplyDeleteThank you! No you are right I am not bored, that's for sure!
DeleteAh, time at home, so good for the soul. I am a homebody by nature, and find if we have had too many days away from home, I need to plan days at home so I can find my center and ground myself again. My little man is the same way.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your home days :)
Thank you Kim we will for sure :)
DeleteThis entire un-planned diairy of yours sounds like heaven to me. I'm so glad you had such an enjoyable time away. I have found myself planned beyond my own desire to be (for reasons you read about in my space) and I'm looking forward to slower weeks before the madness starts again. I guess all we can truly do is enjoy the time we get that is free of schedules. Even if sometimes, they are not as numrous as we would wish.
ReplyDeleteYes that is so true and something I was trying to say but didn't do very well at! Even tho' we were so busy in August I knew that we were going to quiet in September and I had that to look forward to. It was a balance just in a different way, it is when we don't know when it will be quieter again that it becomes unbalancing for me.
DeleteIt's good to feel your rhythm. I find that I like the busy-iness over the spring and summer months, but am so happy to be home the rest of the year. I still fit too much in, but there are days of quiet too. I love that you turned your bike ride round. Living in the now is good to remember.
ReplyDeleteI am slowly coming to that conclusion too, with the busy and quiet seasons. Maybe that is why I love the Autumn so much as I know it will be our slow down time after a busy period.
DeleteI feel the same way - it's a struggle with schedule gets to full, restrictive and controlling. My favorite times are when we are just pushed around by what we "should " do and being is simply enough. Glad that you got some quite time this season too , balancing things out. Glad you are here in this space again
ReplyDeleteXo
A full schedule is a a struggle but sometimes it's hard to stop it getting like that isn't it. If only we have the magic answers!
DeleteSometimes, it is good to let go and not pencil everything in the diary. Let the days come as they will. Enjoy the time :)
ReplyDeleteIt is good, I can't believe it has taken me so long to realise that!
DeleteI am recharged when I stay at home I do not handle super busy well. However I do like to be super productive (at home). I really don't like traveling and being out of sorts with a routine. So I try my best to keep my routine wherever I am....sometimes it works.
ReplyDeleteWe are on the same page Karen!
DeleteSlowing down needs to happen here, and an unplanned day would be bliss. But in my case it's juggling caring for elderly parents with dementia and helping with a new grandbaby that is occupying my time. Perhaps I should go camping!
ReplyDeleteTee, hee........you could combine it with a little bog snorkelling for good measure!
DeleteI think scheduling can quite happily come in ebbs and flows - there are weeks that feel packed and wonderfully so, it's when you get too many all stacked up together that life gets a little overwhelming!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Carie. It is making sure that there is an ebb and flow and not a constant tide!
Deleteit's funny, we had the exact opposite - many unplanned and open days in summer, only to met with the sudden busyness of fall. i'd like to think that each year i handle it better, but i'm not sure. :/ i'm glad that you had a good summer and that things are good in general.
ReplyDeleteI guess we all have our busy times, it is how we handle it that matters and like Carie says ensuring that there are ebbs and flows and not a constant flow of busyness!
Delete