Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Real-life {summer} confessions

June 21, 2017 by Kristin 19 Comments

My calendar says today is the First Day of Summer, you know, officially. My kids, our routine, and our darkened skin say otherwise. We’re about a month into Summer, according to the big kids’ school calendar. But, you know, in honor of the actual calendar and the fact Summer is my favorite, how about some real-life mom confessions? These really are the kind of things we’d talk about if you were on my porch or in my pool.

1. I lose track of how often my kids shower and I don’t care. Hello, pool.

2. I threw away the reading logs that came home from school at the end of the year as soon as I saw them. Ben has actually had his nose in books way more this summer than ever before, and, well, if you know Cate, then you know she’s always reading, often a book she’s already read.

(Reading logs could make my Summer Not-To-Do List …)

3. I don’t have chore charts or bucket lists, but we still do chores and have fun. I do sometimes jot down lists for the big kids, especially Ben, who is more productive when he can focus on thing at a time rather than me blurting out 36 instructions at once.

4. I eat Wyler’s Italian Ice popsicles at least as much as my kids. And I drink grape Crystal Light because it tastes like Kool-Aid.

5. I went to a school board meeting to interview a teaching candidate recently in shorts, a T-shirt, and flip flops. I totally meant to change before I met Greg to eat, hand off the kids, and swap vehicles. I forgot. Legitimately forgot.

6. Sometimes cooking dinner in the summertime involves hot dogs on the George Foreman grill.

7. I wore my shorts-and-tank swimsuit with another tank top on top to pick up Cate from horse camp. In other words, I wear my swimsuit in public sometimes.

What real-life confessions do you have to share?

{Tweet that.}

*****

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Filed Under: Porch Stories, Real-life Confessions Tagged With: food, motherhood, summer

Comments

  1. Susan Shipe says

    June 21, 2017 at 6:07 am

    I remember living in my bathing suit when the kids were little and our pool was ten feet away from the back sliding door. I made my bathing suits back then – 2 pc: halter top style with kind of short-shorts and oh what a great tan I had. Those were the days my friend – we thought they’d never end! (old song) But, alas, they did but oh our memory bank and books are full. Thank you for stirring those memories up for me, Kristin, always fun to visit Team Taylor.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      June 21, 2017 at 2:35 pm

      Impressive, making your own swimsuits! 🙂 I’m looking forward to that face-to-face visit one day, friend! xo

      Reply
  2. Joanne Viola says

    June 21, 2017 at 6:17 am

    Kristin, your confessions made me smile. And made me realize that you all are enjoying every minute of summer! Love it!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      June 21, 2017 at 2:31 pm

      It’s been a really good summer so far. I’m looking forward to the rest. As always, I’m glad you’re here, Joanne!

      Reply
  3. Michele Morin says

    June 21, 2017 at 6:28 am

    Confession: when my garden looks great, my house is a disaster . . . and I’d really rather be outside.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      June 21, 2017 at 2:28 pm

      Oh, yes, I get that. Glad you’re here, Michele!

      Reply
  4. Patricia Krank says

    June 21, 2017 at 6:55 am

    Sounds like FREEDOM! I love it and I miss when my kids were small and we lived Summer to the fullest. Thank you for sharing your confessions.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      June 21, 2017 at 2:28 pm

      Freedom, indeed. I was just realizing the other day how I need to take this attitude toward summer with me into life’s other seasons. I’d be better off! 🙂 Thanks for being here, Patricia!

      Reply
  5. Meghan E. Weyerbacher says

    June 21, 2017 at 7:07 am

    Haha love this. I wore my swimsuit under my shirt all day yesterday. I think it was glued on (TMI??) – Thanks for the laugh, Kristin!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      June 21, 2017 at 2:26 pm

      Yesterday I went from my PJs to my swimsuit, which I wore most of the day. That’s happiness right there. Thanks for sharing here, Meghan!

      Reply
  6. Mandy Hughes says

    June 21, 2017 at 9:34 am

    I’m loving your honesty here, friend!! With you on the pool/bath thing all the way. Our regular routine has definitely taken a turn since school let out, especially with the new addition to our family: a puppy named Benny. Praying for a real and relaxing summer for you and your family.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      June 21, 2017 at 2:25 pm

      Oh, a puppy! That would interrupt anyone’s routine! Enjoy him! I’m glad you’re here, Mandy, and I appreciate your prayers.

      Reply
  7. Lisa notes says

    June 21, 2017 at 10:20 am

    I love your relaxed attitude with summer! Makes it so much more fun and enjoyable for everybody. 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      June 21, 2017 at 2:24 pm

      I’m a nicer person this way. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Katie McGowen says

    June 21, 2017 at 10:51 am

    I made a batch of cookies and I’ve totally eaten more than the kids. I keep putting off sweeping my floor in the hopes it will do it in its own. Instead I’m wiping crumbs off my feet. I need to buy bread, pb, and jelly in bulk and make it our default lunch since the big kids can make it themselves, hahaha.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      June 21, 2017 at 2:24 pm

      I wanted to make cookies the other night (for myself, mostly), but our oven is broken. Thanks for sharing your real life here, Katie!

      Reply
  9. Maree Dee says

    June 22, 2017 at 8:23 pm

    Okay, my real life confession is I wish I could be more like you. I am so darn structured and follow the rules I need to loosen up a bit. Hoping to have a little fun this summer.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      June 23, 2017 at 7:45 am

      Summer helps me loosen up. I need to take my summertime attitude into every other season! I’m a rule follower who usually has way too many expectations.

      Reply

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About Me

Telling stories is my therapy and I love sharing them with friends on my porch.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our eighth-grade girl who never forgets, our have-no-fear fifth-grade boy, and our joy-filled preschool girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

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I’ve loved Cate’s school experience at @ncca.l I’ve loved Cate’s school experience at @ncca.lions, a small but growing classical, Christian school. I knew there were both advantages and sacrifices of keeping her in a small class for middle school and agonized over possibly moving her to a bigger school. I only considered moving her because I wasn’t sure what her classmates, some of who are freshman this year, were going to do for high school. But they stayed, and we stayed. Now she’s an eighth grader in a class of nine. 

A couple years ago, I prayed for more girls. God gave her class two. Sometimes people move on, and sometimes people move in. But this sweet class of eighth and ninth graders has been faithful — to each other, to our school, to an unknown future. They’re paving a way for the students behind them, including my other two kids. 

God has been kind to my momma heart and given me some assurances she is where she’s supposed to be. One of these provisions is a basketball team that has become competitive with the other teams we’ve gotten to play. It’s more than just some games, though. I’ve watched my 13-year-old daughter become more confident on the court and in life. I’m grateful for her friends and their shared love of this game. I’m thankful for where God has us. 

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Meanwhile, little sister has a loose tooth that she won’t wiggle, avoids using to eat, and won’t let her siblings pull. We’ve bribed, threatened, and failed to persuade.

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