Summers of ChildhoodIt’s beginning. One minute you’re perusing Pinterest for the perfect graduation gift idea for your nephew, and before you know it you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole into a new board titled “Summer Fun.” You’re going to DIY and daytrip, craft and cultivate a succulent garden, felt quiet-book and free printable the socks (flip flops?) off of the next hundred days.

All around you flash the warning signs: “Quick, there isn’t much time!!” We’re cautioned to “Keep them busy!” while simultaneously remembering to “Soak up every SECOND!” of this #childhoodunplugged.

It’s enough drown a mama in overwhelm.

Somehow, planning to make forty varieties of homemade, organic, fruit popsicles makes you feel as though you can slow down the betrayal of fleeting time. Perhaps if there’s a theme for every day of the week this summer you can forget about that meme that always pops back into circulation — the one that (harshly) reminds us we only have 940 Saturdays until our kids will sprout wings and fly away.

Somewhere along the line this idea arose that — in order for this little life to count — every moment in time is required to be the best moment of all time. 

But before you succumb the pressure of perfection, I urge you to breathe in the sunkissed sensation of the season.

Do you remember? You are eight-years-old again and the entire world is on the horizon, illuminated with possibility — a horizon that fades only into the magic of fireflies dancing you into the darkness.

It is sweet like a watermelon and stings like a sunburn; lush like the grass beneath bare feet and as bright as fireworks bursting into the night sky.

It’s chlorine burning in your eyes and swirling in your belly, gulped in accidentally as you sang and twirled in the water, living a mermaid’s life.

It’s the boredom that rendered you onto your back, aimlessly staring up at the clouds, wondering what they might taste like, if only you could fly.

It’s the sound of the ice cream truck interrupting the pick-up game of kickball. The thrill of racing inside, fumbling for quarters, wondering if you’ll make it back out in time.

It’s the popsicle with artificial dye and its gumball eyes melting in the scorching heat and dripping down your arms.

It’s the salt of the ocean and the salt of your sweat; the nectarous heaven of peaches, berries, and pie.

It’s looking out the window of the backseat of your car, counting license plates and wondering when you’ll arrive.

It’s scheming with siblings and getting into scrapes; adventures, mystery, and theatrics.

It’s best friends and bike rides; lemonade and late nights.

It’s the spray of the lake coming off of the wake; the ache of swollen mosquito bites.

It’s the glow of the fire and melting marshmallows oozing into graham crackers. The exhilaration as you imagine the dark woods behind you coming to life.

It is laughter until your side splits open; giggling into your sleeping bag after being told for the fourteenth time to close your eyes.

It’s starlight and sparklers. Love-drenched and heart-bursting. Drifting to sleep sticky and gratified.

It is freedom –

…and you once skipped out into the twilight to chase it down, too, though now it feels like it’s been a lifetime.

Can you recall them now? The most suntanned, wild, and unadulterated days of your beautiful, joy-filled life?

They were simple. Spontaneous. The moments of sunlight and starshine.

So before you begin to thoughtfully plan the next hundred days to organized perfection, take pause to dust off your imagination and pencil in some childhood. Because no matter how much you do — or don’t do — for your children this summer, it is the time shared together that will be remembered as the best days of their lives.

Happy Summer!

Happy Summers of Childhood, everyone!

 

 

8 COMMENTS

  1. I love this! And, I was just feeling this on our first day of summer – what are we going to do today?? Instead, we are just going to see where the day takes us. Though, I feel like some sprinkler fun may be in order!

  2. I just adore this piece. You are so right. You have captured so many of the memories I fondly recall. Thanks for helping me to remember what is really important.

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