Closing Down Summer

Photo Courtesy: Photo by Todd DeSantis on Unsplash

I know, I know, it's still August...we haven't even hit Labor Day! But, for us, summer is basically over because school is back in session this week. And, I have to say, I'm kind of ready for summer to be over.

The past few weeks have been a little weird. I'm a serious creature of habit. I like my routines. I like have a rhythm to my day. This summer it's been impossible to find a rhythm that sticks around for more than a week or two.

June started with bebe out of school, a very early birthday party for her, family visiting, and then more family visiting, and then a couple of graduation trips, and then another family visit.

Oh, and I've been writing. I've been working on a book that is...different from anything I've written before. It's scary and its exciting and its a writing rhythm I've never done before.

Before you think I'm whining, I'm actually not. While I am a definite creature of habit and I work well within an established framework, what this summer has taught me above all else is that I can adapt - my life, my writing, my favorite summer indulgences - into whatever new schedule I need to create. Here's what I learned:

1) I found that not only can I read in a car, I can write in a car when necessary

2) Sometimes you just have to bend. I had a Kindle filled with new reads at the beginning of this summer. Most of them are still there. I think I've read about ten books. That is a looooooow reading count for me, people. I also gave up weekly pedicures because I can do the same thing with my bubble tub and a pumice stone in half the time.

3) Sometimes what you think you know about your kiddo isn't what you know. bebe took a break from swimming this year (something I never thought would happen) in favor of learning karate. Her skills have quickly developed and I think she's more excited about karate than she ever was about swimming. I don't know when (or if) she'll pick swimming up again, but seeing her grow in different ways this summer has been so rewarding!

4) New rhythms can be the best of all. No, my summer didn't have the smooth, relaxing rhythm of, say, the Little Big Town song Pontoon. At times it might felt more like a ripped up, screaming version of The Rolling Stones' Start Me Up, but that weird, cacophanous rhythm got me through the summer and now, looking at Labor Day weekend, I met my goals.

I spent a lot of time with family. I saw bebe grow in new ways every day. I'm learning a different way of writing.

What about you? How has your summer been? And, if like mine it was mad, how did you survive?

Kristina Knight is a contemporary romance author, part-time swim-kid wrangler, and full-time Thin Mints enthusiast. You can find out more the book and Kristina on her website, and feel free to stalk follow her on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.



Kristina Knight’s newest release, Perfect on Paper, is out now. Daisy MacIntosh needs a man, and any man will do. After being jilted by her ex - who is also her boss - she needs a date to the company retreat in Mexico. The only problem? Daisy doesn't have time to find a guy, and her ex is hinting that he'd like this work trip to become a reunion romance. Stepping in to become Daisy's pretend boyfriend isn't the best idea Nick Vega has had, but it's the only one he's got. But are they willing to risk their life-long friendship for a romance that might fizzle once they're back home?