June 2026 goals

I’m feeling the wave of energy that comes with a new season! Yes, I know summer officially begins later this month, and that’s part of it, but my reasons are more personal: our two big home projects are complete, I finally edited Annie’s annual video, swim season has begun, I’m back on track with strength training and daily walks, and my parents are coming to visit this week — which means I will finally get to check off two little home projects that have lingered on my lists (hanging our height ruler and our backyard string lights — thanks, Dad!!). Plus, our trips to Michigan and Maine are drawing ever closer (YAY!) and planning for two July birthday parties has me excited. Lots to look forward to over here. I hope you’re feeling the same way!

On my calendar:
— The last day of school! Currently plotting details for our kick-off-to-summer celebration dinner and TTT.
— A beach weekend in Emerald Isle. We’ve loved exploring different coastal towns in NC for the past few Junes and are crossing our fingers for the same excellent weather we’ve enjoyed in recent years. (A few past trips here: Bald Head Island, Beaufort, Swansboro/Hammocks Beach)
— Father’s Day! I’m organizing a hot sauce bar for the men at our church and celebrating my own wonderful husband, Dad, and father-in-law.

What I’m loving right now:
— This is admittedly niche, but in light of last week’s ode to neighborhood swim team, I thought I’d share. One reason my kids love swim is because they get to be part of a team but also compete against themselves. To track their improvement over a season, I made simple charts in Canva, and they love marking off progress after each meet. Feel free to steal and adjust for your own fridge!
— This smocked tank dress was my big purchase this spring. Even though I opted for a bolder pattern, it has seen SO much wear – the silhouette is just so easy to pull on and feels like the right choice for occasions both casual and fancy. A few other versions: red gingham and pale yellow.
— John’s sister and brother-in-law brought this board game with them on a recent trip and the same day they left we bought our own copy at Barnes & Noble! While it is one of those complicated games that’s tedious to learn, it’s not hard to play, and it’s genuinely as enjoyable with two players as it is with four.

As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!

What you’re loving right now:

This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!

— The magical, shape-shifting puzzle we took on our spring break road trip
— My giant sun hat, because we all know skincare won’t go too far without physical sun protection.
— The pastel snackle box we used for Teacher Appreciation Gifts this year. Perfect for pool trips, picnics, and beach days, too!
— The cleansing balm I’ve added to my skincare routine. I’m now a double cleanser and I’m not mad about it. Easy to travel with, too!
— The book we have June’s teachers sign at the end of every school year. More on this tradition here!

Last month on The Connected Family:
— How do we become wise in the age of the bottomless scroll? | An ode to Reader’s Digest and the commonplace book
— Plan a low-screen summer with me! | Boredom, a kindness challenge, and a fill-in worksheet for kids and parents
— Plan an analog summer with me — for you! | Strategies for putting down the phone and picking up real life ☀️
— The best activity you can do this summer | It will take over your life for eight weeks and you’ll be nothing but grateful.

What I read in May:
— Meditations for Mortals | This book is akin to a secular devotional based on the author’s previous book, Four Thousand Weeks, which I read a few years ago. Though I took issue with some of his ideas in the original, he also genuinely changed my thinking and behavior as it relates to productivity and time management in lasting ways. I’m reading one (brief) chapter a day and enjoying the refresher.
— The Correspondent | I finally read this incredibly buzzy book — and it was worth the wait! (Speaking of wait — I was number 1,364 on the hold list for this book at my library, by far the longest wait list I’d ever seen. I eventually borrowed a copy from a friend to bypass the list!) This epistolary novel, containing letters written by the aged protagonist Sybil and her correspondents, unfolds with richness and surprise. Because Sybil reminds me SO MUCH of my maternal grandmother – rigid, gruff, but also caring and generous – I know this novel will stick with me for awhile. For more on the author’s unlikely story, don’t miss this WSJ feature.
— Isola | On to the next buzzy novel! Based on an incredible true story, Isola is the tale of a 16th-century heiress who finds herself abandoned on a tiny island off the coast of Canada with her lover and her nursemaid. As the weather turns bleak, she fights to survive — and finds new dimensions within that will change the course of her life. Recommend!

My reading list for 2026! I’m 10 / 24 so far.

Revisiting my May goals:
Write the first draft of my Sunday service (2/3 of the way done!)
Film Annie in April
Hang string lights in our backyard (Made some progress but not done yet!)
Research outdoor movie set-ups and choose date for first movie
Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the third floor bookshelf
Choose a new wallpaper for the bathroom and otherwise continue to manage our renovation projects (Wallpaper has been an absolute nightmare… but we are (hopefully!) inching closer to completion!)

See our renovation projects to completion (Done! They finished the final details the day our weekend houseguests were set to arrive!)
Hang string lights in our backyard (Lights were purchased and we will hang them with my Dad’s help this weekend.)
Edit Annie in April (Done! So cute!)
Refresh our plan for summer days at home (More here!)
Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the attic (Switched the spot to our master bathroom as I prioritized organizing our new space, so calling this good!)
Get ahead on summer TCF newsletters (A little bit, though not as much as I’d have liked.)
Block out birthday party details for both Shep and Annie, our July babies (Done! Annie is having the most low-key party possible and Shep is having the most complicated, over-the-top party possible, ha. Looking forward to them both :))
Complete the first draft of my Sunday service (No progress here.)
Hang curtains for Annie (They haven’t arrived yet, so no progress here!)

June goals:
— Hang string lights, curtains, and, height ruler with my Dad’s help
— Film June in June
— Book our 2027 Yosemite trip!!
— Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the attic
— Film June in June
— End the school year and begin summer well
— Prep for sleepaway camp
— Organize the hot sauce bar at church for Father’s Day
— Celebrate Annie’s Walk Around the Sun. This is a very Montessori tradition that we’ve never participated in, despite having Montessori preschoolers for many years now. Looking forward to wrapping up our time in the Montessori tradition with this sweet moment!
— Continue planning for the neighborhood kindergarten ice cream social, Annie’s birthday party, and Shep’s birthday party, all in July

As a reminder, many of these are drawn from my 2026 PowerSheets goals!

To close, I would love to hear one thing you’re doing to prepare well for summer! No matter what season of life you’re in – whether you have kids or not, a job that shifts or not – a new season on the calendar always feels like an opportunity to be kind to our future selves :) It could be putting books on hold at the library, deciding on a lunch you can repeat, planning now for a trip, or resetting toy storage… the smallest things can make a big difference! Please share in the comments, if you’d like.

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