Summer, Surrender, and Showing Up: A Personal Check-In Reflection

Hey! I wanted to share something personal today — a bit of a soul spill, if you will. Lately, I’ve been feeling off. Irritable. Stretched. Like time is slipping through my fingers no matter how tightly I try to hold on. And so, this morning, I sat down and let it all pour out into my journal. No filters, no plan. Just truth.

Here’s what came through...

When Summer Hits, Everything Shifts

The moment school ended, it’s like my whole world started moving in a different rhythm... one that I wasn’t quite ready for. Suddenly, I’m not just a nurse coach or forest therapy guide. I’m a full-on activities coordinator, snack distributor, emotional regulator, uber driver, camp drop-off pro… you get the idea...

I’m so grateful I can work from home, and I do love the flexibility. But let’s be honest... flexibility can also feel like chaos in disguise.... haha.

I’ve been doing all the things... Driving the girls to camps, pools, friends houses... trying to squeeze in coaching work, podcast interviews, nature walks, emails, and also 'me time' at some point...

And underneath it all, I’ve been feeling this invisible pressure building. Like I should be doing more. That I should be further along in my business. That I should be more present with the kids. That I should be handling it all better.

Should. Should. Should.

Ugh.... No wonder I’ve been irritable.

The Unseen Work of Summer Motherhood

One of the things that came up for me this morning was how emotionally tired I feel. Not just physically tired... but tired of holding it all.

You know that feeling? Like everyone’s emotions, needs, and schedules are all running through your nervous system?

I realized that I’ve been micromanaging everything around me. The house. The girls. Even my partner...

And it’s not even that I want to micromanage… It’s that somewhere deep down, I think if I can just get everything running smoothly, then I’ll finally have space to do the things that matter to me. To focus. To create. To breathe.

But that mindset is costing me presence. It’s costing me peace. And it’s definitely not creating the freedom I’m craving.

Trusting My Kids (and Myself) More

The kids are making breakfast on a weekend morning

One of the biggest aha moments came when I wrote about the kids. I saw clearly how often I try to control their actions... not because I don’t trust them, but because I’m so desperate to get things "done."

I don’t want to live like that.

I want to see them. Really see them. I want to let them be kids... wild, messy, opinionated, curious. I want them to learn through their own exploration, not just follow directions like tiny task rabbits.

And I want to trust that even when things feel chaotic, they’re becoming the people they’re meant to be. I want to trust that I’m doing a good enough job, even when it’s imperfect.

Sometimes I hold myself back from reacting. Sometimes I don’t. But even that is part of the journey.

The Relationship Layer With My Partner

I’ve also noticed I’ve been short with my partner Will the past few days. It’s like something inside me is pushing him away, and I can’t quite name why. But I do know it’s not about him. It’s something in me that’s feeling unseen, or maybe unsupported.

Will is steady. Calm. Predictable. He never misses his workouts, eats clean, stays cool under pressure.

Meanwhile, I’m just trying to juggle all of the things and hope for the best.

Sometimes I feel jealous of his steadiness. Sometimes I resent his chill. And when I see him reading a book on the couch while I’m juggling 400 tabs in my brain, I just want to scream, "HOW?"

But when I really check in with myself, I know he’s not the problem. My expectations are. My unspoken needs are.

So here’s what I’m manifesting: Asking for help. Being clear about what I need. Noticing when resentment starts creeping in, and getting curious about it instead of burying it.

Affirmations I’m Practicing

• I am practicing letting go of micromanagement and leaning into trust.

• I am exactly where I need to be.

• I trust the path my nature based business is taking, even when I can’t see the full picture.

• I’m learning to ask for support. I don’t have to do it all alone.

  
  

What I’m Grateful For

• I am consistent with going to Pilates twice a week. Not by accident, but by choosing to go and prioritize it on my calendar. I showed up for myself.

• I shared a quiet breakfast with Emma. I paused, and I was present.

• I brewed my favorite coffee and let the scent of it ground me in the moment.

  
  

What I’m Letting Go Of

• The belief that I have to do everything now.

• The urge to control every detail.

• The idea that success has to look like constant productivity.

  
  

And What I’m Choosing to Trust Instead

• The right people are finding their way to nature and my coaching services.

• My girls are growing exactly as they should — even (and especially) when I let go.

• My body is strong and wise and will carry me forward.

  
  

A Few Quiet Wins

• I’ve led several consistent Nature Connection Walks this year supporting others to connect to nature.

• I get to witness my girls becoming more independent

• I am deepening my relationship with nature.

• We finished renovating and decluttering the kids’ rooms. The house feels lighter and I feel lighter.

• I’ve recorded at least 7 interviews for my 'Healing in Nature Stories' series and it fills me with so much joy.

  
  

So here I am. Still learning. Still untangling. And still showing up.

If you’ve been feeling any of this — the heaviness, the irritation, the swirl of summer chaos — just know you’re not alone.

This season asks a lot of us. But maybe it’s also offering us something: a chance to slow down, re-center, and be gentler with ourselves as we navigate it all.

💬 I’d love to know — what’s summer bringing up for you right now? What are you practicing letting go of?

Leave me a comment below.

Until the next one,

Klara.

✨ PS: If you’re craving a deeper pause, come join one of my upcoming Forest Therapy Walks or check out the latest Healing in Nature Story.