There’s a lot of pressure on summertime. It’s the season we compare the rest of the year against. It’s like if our Summers aren’t good, then what can we expect of Fall? And I’m sorry to say what winter will be like if Summer stinks. Rationally, I know this isn’t the case. But Oh! the pressure is enough to make you pass out. These 30 Days haven’t been so easy for me. I’ve struggled for plenty of reasons, but I made it.

Here is some of what I’ve learned:

• I can’t possibly live up to all of Summer’s hype. I should just kick off my flip flops and relax rather than trying to make these long months amazing. Amazing isn’t in the doing, it’s in the feeling.
• The little moments can be the very sweetest. And I’d like to add to my list: tricycle riding, full-clothes fountain playing, visiting grandparents, that maternal pride is seeing my children so happy, the first morning of school, and new shoes.
• Everyone thrives in different ways. Julia needs to be the social butterfly. And Max could quietly watch cars all day long at the Jiffy Lube. In the summertime, when we’re all together, we have to make it work.
• I should take more time for myself. Regularly. Before I come unglued.
• When in doubt, pack up the car for a summer road trip.

So yes, Summer is gone. And at the beginning of these 30 Days I swore that I was “going to do more than survive Summer.” I said I was going to “thrive in in it.” And while I wouldn’t say that we’ve thrived this month, we did make it through. And I learned along the way, which will make next summer that much sweeter.