I love the concept of summer , but when you have older kids who are GCSE plus age . They go on study leave in May and reenter education somewhere in September . And I find the lack of structure , different meal times , extra washing , cooking , cleaning, ferrying around , packing & unpacking from holidays takes the shine off it a bit ! But I do love the sun & the long evenings and the beautiful mornings x
My seasonal affective disorder kicks in mid July for a month and is only relieved by the first sniff of Autumn on a late August morning.
I never have the right clothes, cannot get comfortable outside, can’t sit at my desk in shorts, hate the forced activity to get out and enjoy the sun. I’m bored and listless and looking for bad things happening around corners. Now I know this is my July thing I can accept it and look forward to a rush of energy in September.
When the sun is shining no where better to be than a Pembrokeshire beach or a Harbourside pub. I’ve lived in Australia for almost 20 years and absolutely love summer here but nothing like a British spring/summer! Hoping for glorious sunshine when I am back in June!!
There's a version of this that isn't psychosis at all: it's just honesty about what kind of world you do your best thinking in. Summer is relentlessly social, extroverted, demanding of good moods, and bare arms. Winter asks nothing of you except that you show up and be present with whatever's in front of you. The people who genuinely love summer are either children or people who have made their peace with being interrupted. The rest of us are waiting for October.
I get fleeting moments of melancholy during the summer, which I don’t get at any other time of the year. All those long, sunny days where you feel like you should constantly be doing something fun with big groups of friends, and if you’re not it feels a bit quiet & lonely. It’s weird as I have 3 kids and plenty of friends, but I still get that feeling. I also don’t like hot beaches or floaty summer dresses, so when September arrives I’m deliriously happy.
I like summer with the kids now they’re tween/ teens. When they were really little the thought of no childcare or school and no structure to keep them occupied and me sane… *shudder*
Love summer sun and heat so much more than I did pre-kids, but I know what you mean about that feeling of disconnectedness in the school holidays. I always feel like all the other mums/families are getting together without me, but I don’t *think* they actually are… so for me May half term to July is the best bit
I like it in principle but my body is uncooperative. I am pink and clammy and usually chafing somewhere the whole time. I never feel put together or in control when it’s hot. But it’s like snow: you have to just drastically lower your expectations about what can be achieved in extreme weather.
I literally cannot wait for September. I love the autumn. Living in the north west it’s damp and so when it warms up it becomes humid and sticky. Every year I consider ordering an air conditioning unit. I spend shit loads of money all through the summer holidays and end up burnt out and bankrupt by the end of it. Moan moan moan ha ha
I so relate to this Esther. When it was really hot in the UK a couple of weeks ago, the familiar annual feeling of shorts-dread came washing over me. I know that it doesn't matter to anyone else what you look like in shorts but ugghhh they are my nemesis and also a necessary summer evil when running around after young kids. But it's not just shorts tyranny - it's the expectation to enjoy being outside just because it's warm, as a few people have said below. I am not one of those people who enjoys long pub garden afternoons - even in my 20s in London, I can prob count on one hand the number of times I enjoyed a shapeless, hot afternoon outside a pub. I'm too neurotic. Loved it when I was very young and knocked about a small somerset village with neighbour kids doing what we wanted, but from teenhood haven't really enjoyed the pressure to be a 'joiner' in the summer. Autumn and Winter all the way! X
Sorry, not relatable for me. I love summer and yearn for it especially in Jan and Feb, which are dire in the UK. The long summer days, sitting outside in the garden with a book and a cup of tea/glass of cold white wine, being able to venture outside without thermal layers and gloves and hats - bliss. Bring it on!
I used to dislike summer because I used to struggle with the heat and burn easily but now I’ve learned how to avoid burning (long sleeved maxi dresses!) and I’ve got used to hot temps over the years and now I love it…when we get the correct weather! If it’s not sunny it’s disappointing and if it’s too hot it sets off my climate anxiety so there’s only a narrow margin of enjoyment for me 🤣 but I cannot wait for the school holidays…I’m a teacher so off the whole time and looking forward to unstructured time with my family, casual hangs with the neighbours, pub beer gardens, lots of beach trips and sea swims, catching up with friends and family…can’t wait!
I can relate to this. May and September are better: no expectations but surprise sunshine and lovely evening light. Best temperature for me is 19 degrees! In the ‘90s, shorts were practically banned unless you looked like Kate Moss so extensive effort put into sourcing and applying the right fake tan, gadding about in theme parks in inappropriate long skirts, and working out how to manage no socks without ruining Gazelles by sweating in them. Where to put sanitary stuff without it showing in your pocket/not having a pocket, etc. etc. what to do about underarm sweat patches and forever applying leaves of pressed powder from those little face powder books. This pressure was replaced by the overwhelming burden of packing Everything Required for family holidays. Have been several occasions where didn’t fully relax until the night before flying home, when the last zip was done up on the last suitcase as everyone else slept, blissfully unaware! What strange creatures we are!
I love the concept of summer , but when you have older kids who are GCSE plus age . They go on study leave in May and reenter education somewhere in September . And I find the lack of structure , different meal times , extra washing , cooking , cleaning, ferrying around , packing & unpacking from holidays takes the shine off it a bit ! But I do love the sun & the long evenings and the beautiful mornings x
My seasonal affective disorder kicks in mid July for a month and is only relieved by the first sniff of Autumn on a late August morning.
I never have the right clothes, cannot get comfortable outside, can’t sit at my desk in shorts, hate the forced activity to get out and enjoy the sun. I’m bored and listless and looking for bad things happening around corners. Now I know this is my July thing I can accept it and look forward to a rush of energy in September.
When the sun is shining no where better to be than a Pembrokeshire beach or a Harbourside pub. I’ve lived in Australia for almost 20 years and absolutely love summer here but nothing like a British spring/summer! Hoping for glorious sunshine when I am back in June!!
There's a version of this that isn't psychosis at all: it's just honesty about what kind of world you do your best thinking in. Summer is relentlessly social, extroverted, demanding of good moods, and bare arms. Winter asks nothing of you except that you show up and be present with whatever's in front of you. The people who genuinely love summer are either children or people who have made their peace with being interrupted. The rest of us are waiting for October.
I get fleeting moments of melancholy during the summer, which I don’t get at any other time of the year. All those long, sunny days where you feel like you should constantly be doing something fun with big groups of friends, and if you’re not it feels a bit quiet & lonely. It’s weird as I have 3 kids and plenty of friends, but I still get that feeling. I also don’t like hot beaches or floaty summer dresses, so when September arrives I’m deliriously happy.
Just to add
I like summer with the kids now they’re tween/ teens. When they were really little the thought of no childcare or school and no structure to keep them occupied and me sane… *shudder*
I am Australian and live in the UK (20yrs!) because I am not cut out for heat.
I am very much a 40 denier tights and boots and pub kind of girl. Australia heat is killer and even England on a hot August afternoon makes me cranky
That said, a June morning in the garden, with coffee and the sound of the birds and the green smell of new leaves… bliss!
Love summer sun and heat so much more than I did pre-kids, but I know what you mean about that feeling of disconnectedness in the school holidays. I always feel like all the other mums/families are getting together without me, but I don’t *think* they actually are… so for me May half term to July is the best bit
Thanks for the book recommendation. ‘The Cement Garden’ by Ian McEwan has a similar feel with sinister undertones taking place within an arid summer.
I like it in principle but my body is uncooperative. I am pink and clammy and usually chafing somewhere the whole time. I never feel put together or in control when it’s hot. But it’s like snow: you have to just drastically lower your expectations about what can be achieved in extreme weather.
I literally cannot wait for September. I love the autumn. Living in the north west it’s damp and so when it warms up it becomes humid and sticky. Every year I consider ordering an air conditioning unit. I spend shit loads of money all through the summer holidays and end up burnt out and bankrupt by the end of it. Moan moan moan ha ha
I so relate to this Esther. When it was really hot in the UK a couple of weeks ago, the familiar annual feeling of shorts-dread came washing over me. I know that it doesn't matter to anyone else what you look like in shorts but ugghhh they are my nemesis and also a necessary summer evil when running around after young kids. But it's not just shorts tyranny - it's the expectation to enjoy being outside just because it's warm, as a few people have said below. I am not one of those people who enjoys long pub garden afternoons - even in my 20s in London, I can prob count on one hand the number of times I enjoyed a shapeless, hot afternoon outside a pub. I'm too neurotic. Loved it when I was very young and knocked about a small somerset village with neighbour kids doing what we wanted, but from teenhood haven't really enjoyed the pressure to be a 'joiner' in the summer. Autumn and Winter all the way! X
Sorry, not relatable for me. I love summer and yearn for it especially in Jan and Feb, which are dire in the UK. The long summer days, sitting outside in the garden with a book and a cup of tea/glass of cold white wine, being able to venture outside without thermal layers and gloves and hats - bliss. Bring it on!
I used to dislike summer because I used to struggle with the heat and burn easily but now I’ve learned how to avoid burning (long sleeved maxi dresses!) and I’ve got used to hot temps over the years and now I love it…when we get the correct weather! If it’s not sunny it’s disappointing and if it’s too hot it sets off my climate anxiety so there’s only a narrow margin of enjoyment for me 🤣 but I cannot wait for the school holidays…I’m a teacher so off the whole time and looking forward to unstructured time with my family, casual hangs with the neighbours, pub beer gardens, lots of beach trips and sea swims, catching up with friends and family…can’t wait!
I can relate to this. May and September are better: no expectations but surprise sunshine and lovely evening light. Best temperature for me is 19 degrees! In the ‘90s, shorts were practically banned unless you looked like Kate Moss so extensive effort put into sourcing and applying the right fake tan, gadding about in theme parks in inappropriate long skirts, and working out how to manage no socks without ruining Gazelles by sweating in them. Where to put sanitary stuff without it showing in your pocket/not having a pocket, etc. etc. what to do about underarm sweat patches and forever applying leaves of pressed powder from those little face powder books. This pressure was replaced by the overwhelming burden of packing Everything Required for family holidays. Have been several occasions where didn’t fully relax until the night before flying home, when the last zip was done up on the last suitcase as everyone else slept, blissfully unaware! What strange creatures we are!
ordered - sounds excellent