One characteristic of the past few weeks is how much time I’ve spent reading. Books from the library, magazines I never got around to finishing, new blogs… I’ve gone through a large number of books I’ve really, really enjoyed, and my internet reading has introduced me to one new (to me) concept Radical Homemaking, which I don’t think I’m exactly doing, but I’ve always been the kind of person to be nearly radical, taking what I can and being pragmatic where I need to be, too.

Then there is the “slow” movement. I read about slow foods years and years ago, but it seems to be gaining acceptance in family and parenting circles as well. Slow summers, slow day camps… it all sounds a lot like our life, though I didn’t necessarily know it had a name. We are definitely slowing down, my husband and I narrowing in on our the careers we at least want to have for iteration #2 of our grown up lives, ones that fulfill us more and, definitely in my case, will hopefully allow for the balance I seek. As our boys all speed up, it seems more and more important that our home be the calm guiding hand for their days, the place where they can create and be inspired and follow their whims.

I think for the longest time I’ve sought this at home, but also wanted the go-go-go career that made it impossible. Time to find slow for my professional life, too.