Lara Casey, the brain behind “Powersheets” posed the question in this year’s summer section of the planner, “When fall rolls around, what experiences do you want to look back on and say, ‘I’m grateful I did that this summer?’” For some reason, this question caught my heart. There has been a trend lately of “just 18 summers.” Basically yet another reminder to parents of how fast our kids are growing up and how we need to be present and enjoy them while we can.
18 summers.
It sounds so short when you put it that way! The point, of course, is that we should maximize summertime with our kiddos, while they are out of school. It’s a bit different for us, since we homeschool and I am with our boys pretty much 24/7/365, so I’m maxed out no matter the season. Keeping the #18summers in mind, though, with this question, it made me think back to my summers as a kid and what I loved about them most.
I remember running around the neighborhood at twilight with our little gang of friends, going frog-poking in the yards, playing hide and seek in empty lots, riding bikes and playing football in the streets… climbing trees and rollerblading up and down the block. Staying up and being outside after dark felt so exciting. I knew that was one thing I wanted my kids to remember, too. They’re still too young to run around outside by themselves (and times have changed, let’s be honest), so I decided I wanted to take an evening walk with them at least once a week for the rest of the summer.
Last week, the boys and I walked a half-mile to a local park. The kids played with the water fountain and dug out a mud pond and river while Emerson played with his cars as usual.
Towards the end of our stay, we played “Spiders” on the playground and the boys attacked me and stuck me in their “web.” On the way home, I was walking with a tired Mo-mo on my shoulders, the big boys running ahead and I was thinking about how one of the best things about getting outside is that it creates an opportunity for adventures to happen – seeing a deer or a rabbit, or a snake if you’re really lucky; playing in the mud; making up a new game….
Aaaaannnnnnddd then I felt a raindrop.
We were still about 1/4 mile from the house. Up ahead I saw the rain shower coming. Bodie and Jasper took off for home. I flipped Mo-mo down into my arms and started to jog as quickly as I could, holding him. The monsoon deluge felt imminent. I put Mo-mo on the ground and we both really started to run as the rain came down. Five minutes later, we arrived home, all of us breathless and completely drenched but wearing the biggest grins.
I know it can be hard to make camping and hiking and road-tripping and all that “big” outdoor stuff a priority. We do it because those specific things are important to us and just part of who me and Matt are and what we enjoy. But tonight reminded me of how a simple thing – like taking a walk – can turn into an adventure all on its own and end up being, as Jasper put it, “the best night ever.”
What are your plans for the rest of the summer?
Love it! what a great ending to your day! Love you all!!!!