June 2026 in Review
June felt like three months squeezed into one. Between ceremonies, concerts, appointments, celebrations, work, and one very crowded calendar, it seemed like every week brought another event, another deadline, or another small ending. It was hectic and sometimes stressful, but it was also full of milestones. This was one of those months where life kept moving fast, and all I could do was try to keep up.
Month by the Numbers
| Weight: ↓ 1.2 lbs | | | Migraines: 1 |
| Runs / Walks: 0 | | | Books: 1 |
| Blog Posts: 12 | | | OMMs: 3 |
| Savings: ↑ $540 | | | Debt: ↓ $567.81 |
OMM = One Minute Memoir
Life was busy this month, but the numbers still moved in the right direction. Savings grew, debt dropped, and migraines stayed surprisingly quiet.
June, As It Happened
A month of appointments: June started with a run of appointments. Holden had a doctor appointment, and I had two dental appointments of my own. The first was with a periodontist to finally look into the gum pain, bleeding, and gum recession I’ve dealt with on and off for a long time. It was informative but also discouraging. He suggested three gum grafts for the recession, likely caused by clenching. I felt relieved to have a possible solution… until they told me it would be around $4,000 because my dental insurance wouldn’t cover it. Two weeks later, I went back for the cleaning he recommended. Grafts are on hold indefinitely.
Birthday parties: Holden had two birthday parties this month. One was swimming at his best friend’s house, and the other was at a Ninja Warrior gym. The second invitation meant a lot. The girl’s mom told me she had been dealing with bullies at school, and Holden had been kind to her, so she wanted to invite him. Definitely a proud mom moment.
A day at Seabreeze: I chaperoned Caleb’s band field trip to Seabreeze, a local amusement park and water park. His band played in a competition first, then the kids got to enjoy the park for the rest of the day. It was hot, I was out of my element, and I was not exactly excited going into it, but he had a great time. I loved watching him laugh, run around, and just be a kid with his friends. No regrets, though I did come home sunburned.
Another musical: My aunt and I saw Suffs. Sadly, it was not a favorite, but I still love having these musical nights with her.
A family wedding: One of my cousins got married this month. The reception was nice, the food was good, and I sat with some of my cousins from out of town. Social events like this always make me feel a bit out of my element, but it was good to see family.
Another civil service exam: I took a court civil service exam this month. Apparently results can take around six months, but it always feels worth it to get on eligible lists when I can. One more possibility out there.
Holden’s Moving Up Ceremony: I left work early one day for Holden’s Moving Up ceremony. He got a certificate, a small gift, and the chance to show us a little binder filled with highlights from his year. Both of my boys went to this K-2 school, so we’ve been part of it for six years now. It felt strange and bittersweet to say goodbye. Afterward, I kept one of our traditions: whenever I sign one of the kids out of school early for something, we go to McDonald’s. Happy Meals were had.
Summer Jam school event: That same night was Summer Jam at Caleb’s school, a little outdoor end-of-year celebration. Both boys went. They served pizza for dinner, but the kids mostly wanted to play on the playground instead of doing the planned activities. Honestly, the playground usually wins. Sadly, this was also Caleb's last school event at his elementary school!
Juneteenth and baseball: The boys were off school and I was off work for Juneteenth. That evening, Caleb’s band played the National Anthem at the Red Wings game, our local minor league baseball team. They did it last year too. It is an incredible amount of work for a tiny performance out on the field, but he had fun. We watched a little of the game, but both boys were bored and complaining by about the end of the first inning. Holden was mostly there for the food. Between all of us, we had pulled pork mac and cheese, a soft pretzel, Dippin’ Dots, fried dough, popcorn, and a slushie. Yikes. It was Caleb’s last performance with his elementary band, which made it feel sadder than expected.
Caleb’s Moving Up Ceremony: I took a full Monday off for Caleb’s Moving Up ceremony. Because he is heading to middle school, this ceremony felt much bigger than Holden’s. He won a band award and the highest academic honor they gave out, which was awarded to students eligible for both a leadership award and the Presidential Award for Educational Excellence. It was the final award announced, and as he didn’t get called for the earlier, lower-level awards, we all got increasingly anxious. I suspected what was coming, but still. When they finally called his name, I was so proud. He got a medal and was very excited. Afterward, we went to lunch with my parents. Next up: middle school.
Pizza Bingo: Our monthly Bingo night had another pizza party theme, which the kids love. Holden was told he could not have seconds. He won his big prize pretty quickly, decided he was done playing, and became kind of a stinker about the whole thing. It was a nice night, though, so the boys played on the playground for a bit afterward.
Joe Gatto: My aunt and I went to see Joe Gatto at the local comedy club. We’ve both loved Impractical Jokers for years, and I’ve always wanted to see him live. It was great. We were close to the stage, had some good food, and laughed a lot. Fun fact: I have now seen three of the four Jokers in person. Sal twice, Murr once, and now Joe. Murr was disappointing, but Joe delivered.
A financial milestone: After a couple of years, I started making payments on my retirement loan again. It isn't the flashiest milestone, but seeing the balance finally move down instead of up feels incredibly satisfying. It's one of those little signs that things really are moving in the right direction.
The little moments: Between the bigger events were plenty of smaller things that made June feel like summer had officially arrived. Dairy Queen dinner with Holden one night. A Byrne Dairy ice cream run on a 90+ degree day. A trip to Woodhull Raceway. The boys’ last day of school. A short-lived fire in the fire pit for s’mores. Lots of swimming. Here's to a fun summer before both boys start at new schools next year!
What I Read
June was my slowest reading month of the year so far, but I still managed to finish one solid thriller.
- Stay by Zoe Cross ★★★★☆
Ten strangers compete in an underground survival game for a $2 million prize, only to discover escaping may be harder than winning.
Favorite Read: Stay
Yearly Progress: 16 / 100
What I Watched
June was another documentary-heavy month. Most of what I watched explored ethics, crime, and the complicated gray areas of human behavior, with a couple of standout films that stayed with me long after they ended.
TV Shows
Grey's Anatomy
Netflix · 2005 · Rewatch · s:2 e:8-9
Documentaries & Docuseries
Tell Them You Love Me ★★★★★
Netflix · 2024 · Documentary film
Examines the controversial relationship between a nonverbal man with cerebral palsy and the professor accused of abusing him.
The Perfect Neighbor ★★★★☆
Netflix · 2025 · Documentary film
A years-long neighborhood dispute unfolds through police body camera footage before ending in tragedy.
77 Minutes ★★★☆☆
Tubi · 2016 · Documentary film
Revisits the 1984 San Ysidro McDonald's massacre through survivor interviews and original recordings.
Maternal Instinct ★★★★★
Netflix · 2026 · Documentary film
Explores the shocking murder of an expectant Texas mother whose unborn child was stolen after an elaborate pregnancy deception.
Tickled ★★★★☆
HBO Max · 2016 · Documentary film
A journalist investigating competitive endurance tickling uncovers a bizarre world of secrecy, intimidation, and obsession.
Favorite Watch: Tell Them You Love Me
What I Wrote
Despite how busy June was, I still managed to publish twelve posts, including three One Minute Memoirs. Looking back, these are the two pieces that stayed with me the most.
Favorite Essay: Inside Out, Again
Sometimes the stories I write end up being just as much about me as they are about the boys. This one started with them watching their favorite movies on repeat, but became a reflection on the comfort of repetition. They revisit Secret Life of Pets and Inside Out. I revisit Grey's Anatomy. Maybe we're not all that different.
Favorite One Minute Memoir: The Ten Day Plan
Holden confidently announced that he was giving up Crumbl brownie dippers because he wanted to lose ten pounds in ten days. About twenty minutes later, he came back for brownies. It perfectly captured the wonderfully short attention span of seven-year-old determination.
Coming Up in July
Looking at my calendar right now feels oddly peaceful. After June, that's a welcome change. Nothing is officially on the schedule yet, and I'm hoping that means July can be a month to breathe a little.
I'm hoping for:
- More time for reading.
- Catching up on a few shows and documentaries.
- Finally recommitting to family runs... maybe.
- More progress on my financial goals.
- Plenty of swimming, ice cream, and little summer adventures with the boys.
- A slower pace after one of the busiest months of the year.
June wasn't just busy because of the calendar. It was also the busiest stretch of the year at work, and I'm dealing with some insurance headaches. I'm hoping July brings a little more breathing room in every sense of the word.
♥
See you next month.
No comments