Of all the seasons, autumn is by far my favorite. It’s the start of all good things: strolling through apple orchards, finding the perfect spot for our annual pumpkin patch photo—and I was there for every sweater-weather moment.
This season is so special to me, but let’s be honest: sometimes parenting has other plans. One year, the perfect pumpkin patch outing turned into a muddy, lost mitten fiasco. The hayride was delayed, cider donuts were sold out, and my perfectly staged photo plans went completely sideways.
I could have let it ruin the day. I could have sulked while the kids frolicked in leaves, disappointed that nothing went the way I imagined. But instead, I reminded myself of something important: fall isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.
So, I smiled, posed for whatever pictures we could manage, held my kids’ hands as they climbed onto the wagon for the hayride, and took in the vibrant leaves, the crisp air, and the buttery scent of cider donuts that we finally tracked down at a nearby farmstand. Chaos included, it all felt perfect.
The secret, I think, is to honor the season without letting mishaps steal your joy. The pumpkin may roll away, the apple cider may spill, and the photo may be blurry—but that doesn’t take away the magic of fall. Some of the best moments are the ones that aren’t perfect: a child laughing uncontrollably in a leaf pile, a dog leaping into the frame at just the wrong second, or a sibling tussle that ends in hugs.
Every year, I find a way to fall in love with fall again. I soak in the golden light, snap the pumpkin patch photos anyway, and keep our traditions alive—watching It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, baking Halloween sugar cookies, and savoring freshly made cider donuts.
Fall may not always go as planned—but that’s the beauty of it. It’s unpredictable, messy, and fleeting. And that’s why, as a parent, it’s worth showing up, laughing through the mishaps, and cherishing every single crunchy, crisp, glorious moment.
So, sip the cider, take that photo, crunch in those leaves, and remember: the season is what you make of it—and it’s waiting for you, every year, ready to bring joy, warmth, and a little magic, even in the messiest of moments.