Autumn Sensibilities

I love fall. I love the month of October the best. Every October, I get energized when the chill in the air begins to penetrate my late-summer clothing. My chest tends to expand to near bursting when I drive on highway 196 to town and get assaulted by the bright reds, yellows, and oranges that flank the road. I want to soak it all in. I want to remember the feeling I get when I’ve raked a pile of leaves and my children charge at the pile like Linus with his “wet sucker”. However, it is nearly impossible to be completely in the moment when every mother knows they are actually staring down the long barrel of the upcoming season. You know, the one where there is Christmas card lists to make, presents to buy, festivities to plan. Doesn’t it feel sometimes like autumn is just the warm-up for Christmas? It is a challenge to concentrate on what costumes my children want when I am becoming increasingly preoccupied with what Santa will be bringing. Today’s parents begin to think about Christmas when the stores tell us to begin thinking about Christmas. Currently that is around August when the artificial trees and the ornaments first begin to appear in the windows of shops. The strategy is to encourage us to get our holiday shopping done soon and early. Then we get a stress-free holiday, right? In actuality, because of the unlimited gift options and selection, many parents continuing to purchase gifts right up to near Christmas.

So this year, avoid those sections of the stores where the pretty new holiday décor lie waiting. You’ll have time to think about that next month. Instead, focus on October as it has a lot to offer. Pick some apples. Visit a pumpkin patch. Throw a Halloween party. Make the most of now.

Jennifer Tankersley is the creator of ListPlanIt where members have access to hundreds of printable lists and planning pages, all geared toward helping you live a more organized life and getting the most out of every season.