Summertime, Summertime, Sum-Sum-Summertime!
Let's see. . .we're almost a full month into summer and I haven't heard it yet. Not once. Not one child has uttered those three little words. . . "Mom, I'm bored!"
I hadn't given it much thought until last night, when both of my older children were busy making their own plans for the week, and my youngest was expounding on the movie, "Cars 2," which is #4 on his Summer Fun List of Things to Do.
"Mom," said Sam, "on the next rainy day, we really should go see that movie."
"We don't have to wait for a rainy day if that's one of the big things on your list," I said.
"Mom," he said, "you wouldn't want to waste one of these beautiful days!"
No, I wouldn't. And that's when I realized what's been going on. My children are not wasting their summer days, not the rainy ones or the beautiful ones. They are the ones directing their own fun, their energy is steering the days, and it's been great. To be clear, there are moments that I feel like a bit of a hired driver (less now with Jono being an ACTUAL driver- yay!) and moments when I'm even a little freer than I'd like to be on these long summer days. I miss the days of wading pools and ruffled swimsuits. Thank goodness Sam still likes sidewalk chalk and EVERYONE loves a squirt gun and water balloons. Summer evenings hanging out in the yard? Can't beat that!
Jono plays baseball most days, and is traveling for tournaments most weekends. Whenever possible, we go to his games as a family, albeit sometimes with a grumbling 13-year old girl in tow. We drag a full cooler of drinks and snacks, frisbees, chairs, umbrellas for both sun and rain, sunblock, bug spray, ice, first aid kits, and money for any and all concession treats. There are blankets, forts, extra mitts, foul balls, and everyone fights for the smallest bit of shade. Bad umps, good teams, hot dogs, and people watching—all just a bonus as we watch another great baseball game. Truly, when the day comes that I don't have a son playing summer ball, I don't know what I will do with myself! [Note to my friends: please don't allow me to become a crazy old lady stalking baseball fields.] Summer nights at a baseball field? Anytime.
Abby and Sam are each in a youth theater production this summer, rehearsing during the days, enjoying the theater life and all it has to offer. When they're not under the lights, they're hanging out with their friends in the auditorium, working backstage, enjoying what has really turned into their own space. Abby heads downtown on her breaks with Libby, Emma or any number of the usual suspects. Sam is making friends and allowing his big sister to teach him the waltz for "Sleeping Beauty." (That, my friends, can only be a summer miracle.) Come performance weekend, there are tickets and flowers, grandparents and friends, lights down, curtains up, and we're there every night, you couldn't keep us away. Summer weekends at our favorite community theater? You bet.
We're nearly a month in, or, as I like to say, still almost two whole months of summer to go! There's still so much fun to be had. We're going to the Lake to see grandparents, heading south to the beach, and don't forget, we've got to see "Cars 2." There are more baseball games to play, two opening nights to applaud, plenty of fireflies to catch, popsicles to drip, S'mores to eat, and relaxing days to lounge at the pool.
It's summer, and no one is bored. Everyone is doing their own wonderful thing, but we're connecting and enjoying. At the end of the day, we fall back into place, relaxed from the sun, tired from the day. Pool bags and bat bags pile up in the laundry room, and there are 10 pair of flip-flops by the door. Towels, swimsuits, uniforms and scripts litter the house. . . this is the stuff of summer at my house. There's usually and Indians' game on in the background (which should surprise no one!) and we catch up with the usual questions. How was practice? How was the game? Your rehearsal? Playing outside? Work? How was your day?
Tonight I think I'll ask if anyone wants to run through the sprinkler after dinner. After all, we wouldn't want to waste this beautiful night.
You make me smile about what we have in store for us in the future. Enjoy the rest of your summer - hope to see you soon!
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