June is always a busy month at our house. From the end of the school year festivities, to dance recitals, to awards banquets, to the kick-ff of summer, to birthdays, it’s a hectic (albeit fun) time of year. Although I have often wished that my youngest daughter didn’t have to vie for celebratory space by having a birthday in June, I realized this year that her June birthday, if seen in a new light, is actually a gift.
I’m always mindful—as most parents are—to be sure my kids gets rightly celebrated. That we thoughtfully choose the proper way to celebrate; serving the favorite meal, making the favorite cake, using the favorite plate, and hosting a party that fits the age and the era. Although this can be overwhelming sometimes amidst all the other activities that are jammed into June, this year, I felt like my daughter’s June birthday gave us a chance to actually slow down and focus on what matters most. Instead of feeling like it was just another thing on the calendar, it felt like the perfect respite from the chaos.
This year we eagerly and deliberately planned ahead, setting time aside for a lovely lunch with close friends, a dinner out with the immediate family unit, and made the decision to buck our annual cake-baking tradition for a more unique birthday treat; a do-it-yourself sundae bar. I will admit, I lingered for a bit on that one. How could I possibly be OK with changing up a family tradition that hadn’t been modified since my oldest daughter was born 14 years ago? I’m not sure how. But I was OK with it. We all were. And it created just as much of a special celebration as would have come from baking a cake. By letting myself off the hook on that one (sundaes are soooo easy) I gave myself and my daughter the opportunity to add rainbow sprinkles—quite literally—to a celebration fit for a very special nine-year-old.
I’ve been wishing for ways to create a new energy around this time of year and the rest of the summer for that matter (less anxiety, more ease) and what I’ve learned is that wishes like those can come true. All it takes is a little foresight and allowing yourself the chance savor the moment.
As we begin to wind down our vibrant month of color here at Shutter Sisters (#sscolormonth), today we have chosen to celebrate them ALL. It’s rainbow day! Rest assured, July will be bringing all kinds of opportunities to shoot and share your summer moments with us (yes, that’s a hint to our next OWP theme that will be announced on Tuesday, July 3rd) but it’s still June so let’s celebrate all the colors of the rainbow right now. Share with us every shade today!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012 by 
