Not just pumpkin spice lattes: Why I look forward to fall

I feel like there are two kinds of people in the world: those who love summer and those who don’t. I fall squarely into the latter category. First, let it be said that the house we live in is more than 100 years old and is not air conditioned. That, right there, is reason enough to make summer less than desirable. I don’t like being hot and I don’t like the sluggish feeling that hot weather brings – those things are true. But they aren’t the true reasons I love fall. Those reasons go much deeper.

For me, fall represents the return to routine. I'm not the mom who eagerly awaits the first school bell because it signals the kiddos leaving the house. Not having my daughter home every day is the one thing I don't love about fall. But I thrive on routine. I like the rhythm that comes along with a regular schedule, of knowing what’s coming next. I like being prepared and organized. I don’t do well with flying by the seat of my pants. To me, that’s the vibe of summer, that carefree, let’s-see-where-the-road-takes-us attitude. I’m fine with that for a while, but if I’m being really honest with myself, towards the end of July I start craving routine again.

In the summer, we are often running to various activities, packing for vacation, spending time with friends, etc. Although those things are great and they are the stuff of lifelong summer memories, often things like gathering around the family dinner table falls by the wayside in favour of keeping up the pace of summer fun. In the fall, I look forward to getting back into my kitchen (which I usually abandon when it’s just too hot to cook) and cooking up the kind of meals that take time to both cook and savour. I believe in planning ahead and stocking the freezer for busy weeknights, but in doing that, I am also building in time to spend around the dinner table with my family. It is those small things that I treasure most about fall.

So, summer lovers, you can have your hot weather and long days. I long for the season of cool evenings, meals around the dinner table, and the reliable cadence of routine.

#fall #family #my2cents