As quickly as it arrived, summer is on the cusp of closing out. The idyllic days of leisure, with clear schedules and no homework, give way to the rhythm of the school year.

As my children enter higher grades, our calendar is an explosion of activity. Virtual classes, computer assignments, and extracurriculars now fill my calendar in a way that they never have before. Weekly defined tasks and objectives have focused in on immovable class times and date-specific deadlines. This is a brave new world for us.

It’s been a great summer for the kids. They’ve had neighbor friends to play with, there have been trips to see cousins, late nights catching fireflies, and so much more. I hope this is one that they’ll benchmark all the others against.

Some may dread the return of school, but structure and learning are two good things. As the air cools and the routines settle in for this new season of life, new joys, opportunities, and adventures await.