Recently, I came across a simple phrase about raising boys: engage and exhaust. At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but it’s been sticking with me, especially as I prepare for a summer with the boys home every day… and now, as we get ready to welcome a third boy into our family!

It’s made me more intentional about how we spend our days.

The engage part has looked like inviting my boys into everyday life. Helping make breakfast, setting and clearing the table, watering plants (things that honestly feel slower and sometimes more inconvenient). But I’ve been surprised by how much they love it. They light up when they’re included. It gives them ownership, and even my picky eater has started trying new foods just by being part of the process.

The exhaust part is a little trickier. There’s a fine line between active and overtired. But I’ve found that intentional time outside, space to run and play, and friendships that keep them moving and thinking all make a difference.

So as we head into summer, I’m holding onto both: engaging them in the everyday, exhausting them in the best ways, and leaving room for slow mornings and a little flexibility in between.