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OPINION

There are of course the usual pieces of information you are given when you become a parent — you are going to be tired, your life is going to change forever and you will have to share everything you own.

I never got the advice about always feeling one step behind.

But then again, that is sometimes how I feel about life in general — it moves at a progressively faster pace, and I am constantly battling to keep up.

I noticed a change when I went out onto my balcony last night.

It wasn’t as light out as late as previous nights, and the sounds of children running around the neighbourhood was non-existent. The air was colder and I could feel September slowly creeping up.

I hate to be that person, but we all know summer is more than half over.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it reminds me of how little summer time I have left to take advantage of, and how few activities I have planned for fall that I should have already scheduled.

A few columns ago I made a deal with myself and my husband to explore the many beautiful lakes of the Thompson-Okanagan.

I was so confident our love for the outdoors, and for swimming, would ensure us visiting at least 20 lakes before the first autumn leaf fell — and there is still time — but with only four or five lakes ticked off, time is running out.

Every year summer arrives and it feels like it is going to be the best one yet and it is going to go on forever.

We all make lofty plans about visiting festivals and farmers' markets and days at the beach and gardening or volunteering.

And then, what is that annoying expression? Life is what happens while you are making plans. (I only say it is annoying because it is so true.)

We forget about work and promises we have made to other people. We have days where we just can’t get up the energy to pack up the car, or suddenly it is too hot to be outside at all.

We talk about taking advantage of the weather, but then opt to curl up inside with a great book.

And then we have to start thinking about fall, even though we would rather bask in summer just a little bit longer, and there is so much planning to be done.

Kids will be going back to school, and with that comes a whole basket of to-do lists: Buying new clothes, school supplies and whatever other provisions we haven’t found out they will be needing yet.

Extra curricular activities commence, and if you forget to register in the summer (while you were having fun and not remembering you were supposed to be planning ahead, because apparently that’s what all the ‘smart’ people do), you might be out of luck.

It’s been an amazing summer so far, and I know there are still a few weeks left.

But it’s kind of like parenting — as you are getting used to something, you know a change is waiting just around the corner.

— Becky Mann is a 30-something, red haired, mother of two, trying to navigate this life as best she can. She enjoys talking to people and discovering their stories. Still trying to balance her personal and professional life, she juggles work and play. In her spare time Becky can be found visiting with friends, spending time with her family and saving time by reading while walking, She knows there is so much more to come and is looking forward to the continued adventure.

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