When I think back on my childhood summers spent with my educator
parents and younger brother, the memories go something like this:
Pool. Pool. Backyard pool. Backyard dodgeball. Bike riding. Camping. Beach. Pool. Some day camp. Pool. Those
days were all about embracing the sunny weather and freedom to sleep in
and play late. When I think about the summer I spent with my husband
and preschooler son this year, it goes more like:
Work. Work.
Daycare shuffle. Hand kid off to hubs. Bad prime-time reality TV.
Travel. Travel with laptop. Obligatory travel. Music class. Playgroup.
Park. Schedule. Schedule. Stress. Collapse. Wake up early and work. Like
many other mamas I know, the return of fall and preschool and the
regularity of the year has blown in some regret that we didn't kick
back more, slurping popsicles and poking worms. It wasn't all bad, but
it also wasn't lazy or hazy or even the crazy days of summer. And I
wonder:
How many families pack their summers full of stress and schedules, and are summers like these a rarity, even a thing of the past?Read More...
