Lauren’s Tips on Navigating Transitions and Seasonal Change

You know the feeling. You look out the window and the slant of light that looked so cheery before looks paler— the leaves that once cloaked the trees in green are golden brown and crunch beneath your feet. It is unmistakable— Winter is coming.

This was the feeling that spurred me to write “I Miss Summer.” For even though I wrote it around Labor Day when it was still sunny and nearly 80 degrees, I could tell that there was a cooler breeze blowing in. I wanted to capture the exquisite feeling of missing something before it was actually gone. So I sat down right where the thought took hold of me— it happened to be by the water at Brooklyn Bridge Park— and out poured “I Miss Summer” in one afternoon.

For me, I love the seasons so much that it is funny that I always feel a bit melancholy when fall comes, until I remember all the fun fall brings— my favorite holiday, Halloween, the bounty of the farmer’s market harvests, crisp back-to-school weather and children excited to learn in the new school year. I wanted to remind myself and others, especially sensitive kiddos as I was (and mostly still am!) that change can be hard, but it can be good too, and that just because we lose something doesn’t mean we won’t find something new we love. In fact, one season ending makes room for the joys of another— in this case summer moving into fall, or fall into winter. There is beauty to be found in each season when we meet it with open arms.

 I thought about how my first graders taught me that leaves are actually always the colors of fall, and are just green as the tree converts sunlight into energy— the excitement in their voices was contagious, and made me think about what other things were not necessarily changes, but a return to something that already was. I thought about the birds flying south for winter, and how this was always part of nature‘s plan; we just experienced one moment of it— when the birds were here visiting us, but that was just one small part of the picture of the whole world's ecosystem. I thought about the sun, too, how it feels like it shines directly on us wherever we are. It is really just passing through, and will soon bring summer to other parts of the world, until it is time for it to return to ours. 

I thought about how my students and I looked forward to the changing of the seasons and celebrated each one with equal vigor, and wanted to make sure that hot cocoa, and cozy blankets, made it into the wintry scenes in the story. When looking for an illustrator this magical, as soon as I saw Béibhínn McCarthy’s amazing work, I knew I had found our illustrator. Her work makes everyday moments feel enchanted, and the dormant energy of a seed waiting to sprout is made palpable in all of her art that captures nature and animals. I am so honored to have worked with her on this story, and I’m already excited for our next collaboration in the mythical story coming to the Storied Forest in the new year, “Sister Sun and Sister Moon.”

Until then, I hope the holidays keep you cozy and warm, and that you enjoy “I Miss Summer”!

Love,
Lauren

Lauren’s Tips on Navigating Transitions and Seasonal Change:

1 - Knowledge is Power

Learn as much about the new change as you can, as it will both acclimate your family, and make it a fun learning adventure. If your child is starting to worry about the sun going down earlier, like the boy in “I Miss Summer,” explore some of the science behind the sun as it travels the globe. Learning about the real reason the colors of leaves change is another fun way to embrace transitions – I have my first graders to thank for teaching me the reason behind their pigmentation!

2 - Unexpected Gifts

Think about what you have to look forward to in the transition. You might miss beach umbrellas, and blankets, and building sandcastles, but the change of the seasons also lets you enjoy a cozy cup of hot cocoa, and building snowmen. When you think about it, change is necessary in order to allow for different experiences, as long as you are open to them. In “I Miss Summer,” the boy and his family look forward to making their own light in the longer nights, to read together. I encourage you to make a list of three things you and your family are looking forward to this season.

3 - Find Comfort in Routine

When change is in the air, routine can be even more difficult to stick to! But it is routines that set the cadence of our lives, keep us grounded, and make us feel safe. What comfortable routines can you make sure you keep up during the time of transition? 

4 - Make Room for New Rituals

Once change isn’t something to be feared, but rather processed and embraced, you can add some new rituals specific to what your family needs at this time. It might be sharing the best part of your day before bedtime, or reading a favorite story that you know brings comfort. What new rituals might you want to begin to celebrate welcoming transition? 

I hope these tips help you navigate transitions and seasonal changes in this, and in all, the seasons of the year!