Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Summer Break Flies By
As parents, we often feel that sigh of relief as the middle of June approaches. No more homework, no more racing to school before that "da-n" bell rings and the gate slams shut. At the same time, I remember feeling like a bag of bricks was hanging from my neck. Ten weeks at home with my three kids just sounded so long and cumbersome.
The dread of seventy-three long hot days ahead of us consumed me...at first. Granted that first week hardly counts; we were all a mass of zombie-vegetables lying in front of the television, decompressing from a tornado-like twist of chaos during those last few weeks of school. But then...the strangest thing happened. I blinked and it was already the end of July.
After that last minimum day of school and the week that didn't really count for much at all, we busied ourselves with eye appointments, my husband's graduation from his Ph.D. program (GO HUBBY!), a theater production, beach trips, a Father's Day dinner at a beach brewery, library trips, visits to our local bookstore, barbecues with friends, a trip to a local radio station and alas...SUMMER VACATION!
Summer vacation was faster than a blink. Two trips to Sea World, two days at the Zoo, tide-pooling at the beach, lounging at the pool, visiting the new children's museum downtown, scooting all over Balboa Park, and a Padres game...was fun, but exhausting. By the end, we needed a vacation from our vacation.
And now, we have less than five weeks left. This will include more swimming, more reading, more eating, more time with friends, and definitely more sweating through this blistering heat. But my attitude has changed. It went from a feeling of skepticism for what the summer would hold to one of pensive contemplation.
I'm bummed that it has gone by so quickly. Now, I feel like I'm grabbing at the days like they are precious gold, grasping for one more minute after each bed-time story. If only July had forty-five days instead of thirty-one. But, it doesn't and before we know it, it will be August twenty-third...back to school and back to the cycle of chaos that ensues.
But, the good thing about introspection is that it makes us enjoy what we have even more. We get to hug our kids longer while we treasure these remaining weeks. We can savor each slow sip of our morning brew instead of darting out the door for the early morning drop-off. And let's not forget to linger during lunchtime with that mouthwatering watermelon that's still on the menu.
In closing, one word comes to mind: "Enjoy!" Enjoy these remaining five weeks of summer-break. Enjoy your kids. Enjoy that novel that you're in the middle of. Enjoy your fuzzy slippers and your friendly flip-flops long into the lazy afternoon. Enjoy the scrumptious, tropical smell of sunscreen. And remember to enjoy some other hobbies along the way...art, music, cooking, creating, dreaming.
Share how your family has enjoyed this adventurous and sun-kissed summer. We'd love to hear from you. :)
The dread of seventy-three long hot days ahead of us consumed me...at first. Granted that first week hardly counts; we were all a mass of zombie-vegetables lying in front of the television, decompressing from a tornado-like twist of chaos during those last few weeks of school. But then...the strangest thing happened. I blinked and it was already the end of July.
After that last minimum day of school and the week that didn't really count for much at all, we busied ourselves with eye appointments, my husband's graduation from his Ph.D. program (GO HUBBY!), a theater production, beach trips, a Father's Day dinner at a beach brewery, library trips, visits to our local bookstore, barbecues with friends, a trip to a local radio station and alas...SUMMER VACATION!
Summer vacation was faster than a blink. Two trips to Sea World, two days at the Zoo, tide-pooling at the beach, lounging at the pool, visiting the new children's museum downtown, scooting all over Balboa Park, and a Padres game...was fun, but exhausting. By the end, we needed a vacation from our vacation.
And now, we have less than five weeks left. This will include more swimming, more reading, more eating, more time with friends, and definitely more sweating through this blistering heat. But my attitude has changed. It went from a feeling of skepticism for what the summer would hold to one of pensive contemplation.
I'm bummed that it has gone by so quickly. Now, I feel like I'm grabbing at the days like they are precious gold, grasping for one more minute after each bed-time story. If only July had forty-five days instead of thirty-one. But, it doesn't and before we know it, it will be August twenty-third...back to school and back to the cycle of chaos that ensues.
But, the good thing about introspection is that it makes us enjoy what we have even more. We get to hug our kids longer while we treasure these remaining weeks. We can savor each slow sip of our morning brew instead of darting out the door for the early morning drop-off. And let's not forget to linger during lunchtime with that mouthwatering watermelon that's still on the menu.
In closing, one word comes to mind: "Enjoy!" Enjoy these remaining five weeks of summer-break. Enjoy your kids. Enjoy that novel that you're in the middle of. Enjoy your fuzzy slippers and your friendly flip-flops long into the lazy afternoon. Enjoy the scrumptious, tropical smell of sunscreen. And remember to enjoy some other hobbies along the way...art, music, cooking, creating, dreaming.
Share how your family has enjoyed this adventurous and sun-kissed summer. We'd love to hear from you. :)
Labels: kids, parents, summer break
