Why My Kids and I Pretended It Was Fall in the Middle of June

There are certain things about fall that make me irrationally happy.

The first cool morning after months of heat. Cinnamon and pumpkin candles. Cozy movies. Warm drinks. The feeling that routines are returning and something exciting is just around the corner.

So when we woke up to a cloudy June day with temperatures hovering around 72 degrees, I decided we were going to pretend it was October.

Was it a little ridiculous? Absolutely.

The calendar said June. The patriotic decorations are still hanging around the house. The kids spent part of the afternoon swimming. But for one evening, we fully committed to the illusion.

We watched Hocus Pocus.

I lit every pumpkin candle I could find.

I baked cinnamon sugar cookies.

I even poured myself and my kids glasses of sparkling apple cider because, while I appreciate summer, my heart belongs to fall.

Honestly, it was exactly what I needed.

Lately I’ve realized that adults don’t have many built-in opportunities for anticipation. As kids, we count down to birthdays, summer break, Halloween, and Christmas. As adults, life can start to feel like an endless cycle of responsibilities, appointments, laundry, and figuring out what’s for dinner.

Sometimes joy doesn’t arrive on its own. Sometimes we have to manufacture it.

Maybe that means making soup on a rainy June afternoon. Maybe it means watching a Christmas movie in July. Maybe it means burning a pumpkin candle three months earlier than society deems acceptable.

Maybe it means deciding that for one night, your family is going to ignore the calendar and embrace whatever season your heart is craving.

For us, that meant pretending it was fall.

And judging by the smiles, the cinnamon sugar-covered fingers, and the complete lack of complaints from my children, I’d say it was a success.

So if, like me, you’re feeling a little restless, stuck, or just longing for a different season, consider this your permission slip.

Light the candle.

Watch the movie.

Make the cookies.

Your favorite season will get here eventually, but there’s no rule saying you can’t borrow a little bit of its magic in the meantime.

How We Had a Fall Night in June

Movie: Hocus Pocus

Snacks: Homemade cinnamon sugar cookies (recipe from Half-Baked Harvest) and buttery popcorn

Drink: Chilled sparkling apple cider with a cinnamon sugar rim

Ambiance: Pumpkin candles, cozy blankets, and pretending the outside temperature wasn’t 75 degrees

Tell me I’m not the only one who does this. What season do you find yourself missing the most?

If you liked this idea, you may just love my Cozy Hygge Essentials list, too!