Chasing Leaves & Slowing Down: Why Fall Is the Season Moms Need Most

Fall always feels like a deep breath after summer’s chaos. The sun sets earlier. The air gets crisper. And suddenly, it's okay to pause.

As moms, we spend so much of the year juggling everything—packing lunches, chasing toddlers, scheduling appointments, remembering the right shade of blue water bottle for preschool. But fall? Fall invites us to look up. To notice the leaves changing. To take walks just for fun. To sit still under a tree and say, “Wow.”

The Beauty of Doing Less

In summer, we often feel pressure to "make memories!" and "do all the things!" But in fall, nature sets the pace—and it’s a slower one. The leaves don’t rush. They turn one by one, then let go.

It reminds us that letting go is part of the rhythm too. Maybe you’re letting go of a schedule that’s not working. Or a season of babyhood that’s behind you. Maybe it's just letting go of guilt for not being everything to everyone, all the time.

Leaf Peeping as Self-Care (Yes, Really)

You don’t have to plan a weekend getaway or hit a Pinterest-worthy trail. Just walking through your neighborhood with a cup of coffee and your kid pointing out every “rainbow tree” counts.

Leaf-peeping forces us to look around. To take in the colors, the textures, the way the sunlight filters through the branches. It’s a moment of wonder. And wonder is good for moms, too.

Simple Ways to Savor the Season

• Plan a no-pressure hike — Not for exercise, but just to see what you can find.

• Try our Leaf-Peeping Scavenger Hunt — It’s a free printable, and turns any walk into an adventure.

• Take one photo a day of something fall-ish — A leaf, a sky, a muddy boot. Look back in November and smile.

• Sit still in nature with your child — Count leaves. Name colors. Watch the wind.

• Use our Fall Hikes & Leaf-Peeping Guide — We’ve gathered the best local trails for easy adventures with kids.

Fall Is Fleeting—And That’s What Makes It Beautiful

Maybe that’s why we love fall so much. The colors don’t last. The larches drop. The season changes.

It reminds us to savor what’s in front of us: a muddy-handed toddler holding a red leaf, a chilly walk that ends in cocoa, a moment of peace in the chaos.

So here’s your reminder: slow down, soak it in, and go chase those leaves while they’re still hanging on.

P.S. Need trail ideas or want to print the scavenger hunt? Click here for our Fall Hikes & Leaf-Peeping Guide! 🍁