Slow Down and Be Here Now

We recently bought this wonderful children’s book, Slow Down… and Be Here Now by Laura Brand, for Brooks (4) and Hudson (1) before our family trip to Manchester, VT.

The book shares simple, everyday moments in nature - bees buzzing, leaves drifting, caterpillars crawling - and reminds us to see them with curiosity and wonder. It’s written for kids, but the message hit us just as hard: slow down, and be here now.

A week of noticing

Inspired by the book, Brooks and I found ourselves sitting on the side of the road near our rental, watching bees dip in and out of wildflowers. He had just learned that bees use their proboscis to draw nectar from the flowers, which they then turn into honey back at the hive. After a week of eating delicious local honey by the spoonful, he was thrilled to connect the dots.

• We checked out brightly colored mushrooms growing from fallen tree stumps.

• We sat on our deck and watched hummingbirds swoop in for a sip of sugar water.

• We traced caterpillars crawling on leaves, wondering which leaf would become their cocoon.

It was simple, unhurried, and grounding.

Slowing down in the juggle

As working parents, the pressure of busy careers often pulls us in 10 different directions. Add in the logistics of meals, school, activities, friendships, and family - it’s no wonder the juggle feels overwhelming. That’s why this little reminder to slow down and be present is so important.

We want our kids to have opportunities, adventures, and fun. But more than anything, we want them to feel like we were there with them, really there, for the small moments too.

Slowing down doesn’t mean doing less. It means being intentional. Being fully in the moment, whether it’s a bike ride, a post-dinner walk, or sitting still to watch a hummingbird.

Because at the end of the day, our kids won’t remember how “efficient” we were. They’ll remember the times we stopped to notice the world with them.

Looking for more of our reflections on balance and parenthood?

Read how we keep organized with young kids and busy jobs.

Check out our two-part series on healthy eating under a time crunch and simple food hacks.

Or see why we keep returning to Manchester, VT — our family’s favorite escape.

Here’s to slowing down, being present, and finding joy in the juggle.