We here at the Avis home love summer. Our end of the school year count down begins at least 45 days before the final school bell rings ushering in the flexibility, relaxation and excitement summer days can bring.
Honestly though? Summer can be tricky when you are raising kids who don't totally now where they belong. Kids who might behave differently at the pool or who might get strange looks at the park, or who might need a little extra time and explanation when transitioning from one activity to the next. It's hard to know where we belong in a world that can sometimes see belonging as being the same.
Because if the Avis family is anything, we are different!
But here is what my kids have taught me and continue to teach me day after day, year after year: belonging does not mean being the same but rather making space for and celebrating the differences in all of us. Because when we create a space where everyone belongs, we get to see the wholeness and uniqueness humanity has to offer. And when we teach our children to make spaces in their lives where everyone can belong, not only do we get to show them how to celebrate our differences, but we get to show them just how much we have in common with all different kinds of people.
So this summer, as we put on our matching striped tees we'll add our own unique flare and choose to do all the things. We will show up at family camp knowing Macy will respond differently in group settings, and teaching those around us that she still does in fact belong. We will walk through airports and hop onto airplanes knowing our crew will get some stares and teaching our kids to see the awesome in the people staring. And we will embrace all the fun summer has to offer knowing that our embrace may be a little tighter at time and a littler loser at times. We will forever embrace each unique thing about those we share this globe with as we continue to create a world where belonging looks like celebrating our differences
