Week 19: One Dinner, a Car Full of Memories, and the Start of Summer

May 18–24 Family Dinner Count: 1 (Number 58) Heart Full: Limitless

The last week of school always hits with a whirlwind of events, emotions, and exhaustion. This one was no exception. It was bursting at the seams. We had school banquets, award ceremonies, the 8th grade trip to the water park, and my favorite: the 8th grade graduation parade.

8th Grade Promotion: Let me tell you about this parade! It turned into a full-blown water fight. I inflated 150 balloons, crafted a balloon garland to wrap around our car, and added inflatable flamingos and palm trees to put out the windows. My daughter sat out the sunroof, armed with a squirt gun and the biggest smile. The street was lined with soaking-wet kids, parents laughing, and so much joy. It felt like the perfect finale to middle school. A sendoff filled with sunshine and silliness.

Road Trip and Time Together: And as if that wasn’t enough for one week, we packed up the car that night and hit the road for San Diego. My son’s best friend was graduating from high school, and we weren’t going to miss it. Seven hours in the car with both of my kids turned into something unexpectedly magical. We played Friends TV show trivia. We sang along to Hamilton (yes, even my teenagers sang!). We grabbed Panda Express and kept driving. It wasn’t a sit-down dinner, but it was together and it was perfect.

In the midst of this family time, I also had a full workweek. I advocated at an IEP meeting and had a board meeting. The only night we had an actual dinner together around a table was Monday. But that didn’t define the week.

What defined the week was connection.

My daughter and I stayed with my cousin, took long walks on the beach, and had the kind of quiet conversations that only happen when life slows down for just a minute. My son stayed with his friend, savoring his own kind of independence. And on the way home, it was just me and my girl again. We listened to an audiobook she loved. We paused to talk about the stories. We had uninterrupted time; the kind I know won’t always be this easy to come by.

Mom's Don't Forget: one dinner around the table isn’t a failure. It’s a win when we notice the moments that matter, even if they’re happening in a car with takeout, or with your kid hanging out the sunroof soaking teachers.

This week reminded me that connection can look like a squirt gun, a sing-along, or an audiobook shared between just two people. That’s what this series, and this season of life, is about. It’s about showing up, staying present, and holding onto the tiny seconds that make it all worth it.

Summer, we’re ready for you.