School is back in session, extra-curriculars are commencing, summer is bidding us farewell, and fall-loving Texans are crossing our fingers for the slightest hint of changing leaves and cooler days. Although the oncoming seasonal change equals less time in the pool, it means a bit more happiness for yours truly. Don’t get me wrong—I got used to watering my lawn between the hours of 4:00 and 5:00 A.M. followed by a 30-minute jog when the temperature was “only” 96°F, but to be honest, this summer’s heat wore me out faster than I could refill my chilled tumbler. For me, less heat means more time outdoors within normal hours of the day. Less heat means more family bike rides. Less heat means more impromptu walks after dinner. And for this San Antonio mom, less heat means more experiences to be had in the Alamo City.
As a society, we hear on a daily basis that less is more. Less sugar and more water. Less sitting and more squats. Less time in the office and more time at home. Less screen time and more books. Less sun exposure and more hats. Less stuff and more experiences. As moms, the notion of living with less runs through our blood and is ingrained in our DNA. Moms naturally survive on less: less sleep, less food, less time to ourselves, less personal space, and many more that would take hours to list. I firmly believe we were designed to thrive so others can have more.
When my oldest was born six (almost seven—yikes!) years ago, she and I had the leisure of taking on whatever we wanted for that day. With my teaching career on hold and my stay-at-home mom hat high atop my head, I took each day with the beauty of the unplanned. Sometimes we danced our sillies out in a mommy and me class, other days we found ourselves at the library for the coveted baby/toddler time, and we spent many afternoons strolling through the neighborhood with cheerios and water bottles in hand. We had less on our plate and more laughs throughout the day. We had less hurry and I had more patience. We had less “to-dos” and more downtime. Yes, I only had one child at that point and the privilege of sharing my days with hers, yet the simplicity of our lives in that season is bittersweet to reflect upon. Our little family even resided in a smaller home, yet I felt as if we had more room than needed. At a time in our lives when there was less of everything across the board, I felt as if we had a surplus of all things.
Less is more.
Fast forward a few years and you will find that we are two kids, two schools, and a different house away from the simpler time I so lovingly reflect upon. Don’t get me wrong—I am content in this season of my parenting journey. But I would be lying if I said that I didn’t long to return to a time when school schedules and activities didn’t factor into our daily lives. On the flip side of that coin, the advantage of the school life means we are more aware of our free time and less likely to squander it away. Less is more. Could less free time mean more meaningful memories? As counter-intuitive as it sounds, I believe truth lies within that statement. We find ourselves soaking up the beauty of school holidays and long weekends, relishing in the fact that busier days do not automatically equate to content children, with my family being the exact opposite. The more that is crammed onto our plate, the more meltdowns take place. The more we rush from one event or activity to the other, the less likely we are to savor the sweet moments from them. Did we get cabin fever more times than I can count over the summer thanks to the extreme heat? Yes. Would the thought of museum-hopping around town bring a smile to my face? Absolutely. However, many of the most satisfying moments for my soul came from the mornings of imaginary play and pretend ice cream trucks, impromptu dance parties, and whimsical tales of knights and princesses. The more running around we think we need to be doing, the less we truly retain.
Less is more.
Somewhere inside each of our mama hearts, there lies a whisper that tugs at us; a memory that reminds us; and a force that centers us back to a point of importance. For me, taking the time to stop and listen usually falls by the wayside, until some monumental sign shakes my shoulders and urges my mom brain to focus to the best of its abilities. Less is more. Halt current activity and do less. Put the checklist down. Just stop and be. Less distraction means more presence; less outside noise means more mindfulness of the now.
Personally, I am counting down the days until the cooler weather arrives (yes, I mean 80°F), and the pumpkin carving and pie making can commence. Then you’ll find us at a pumpkin patch or hay maze, sipping on apple cider and taking in the autumn breezes we’ve dreamed about since May. And there you will find me making an exception to my “less is more” rule, but only when pumpkins and autumn breezes are to be found.
