Where does the time go?

Summer is almost over. It seems very odd to say that on August 4th, but school functions begin next week for me and the week after that for the kids. School used to begin shortly before or right after Labor Day; now we’ll already be in full swing on that welcomed 3-day weekend. So, in honor of summer, here are things I like/ notice/ and miss about summer; in other words, here are my thoughts on summer.

There’s too much on TV. Kids constantly want to watch TV, and they will watch the same episodes of the same shows repeatedly. If nobody else is outside, “can we watch TV?” is the popular question. Summer should be for outside; it would be nice if, especially in this exercise-conscious country, our television stations did more to encourage children to stop watching. I know that doesn’t make sense for a TV network to encourage people to not watch; I’m just saying it would be nice.

At the same time, this summer weather has been inconsistent at best. It either feels like the rain forest or the inside of a volcano. Neither is prime playing outside weather, so enter the TV, DS, Wii, etc. The most comfortable times to be outside are early in the morning, when you don’t want the kids to wake the neighbors, or later in the afternoon when dinner, tub time, and bed are on the horizon. I sat—yes sat—outside for about ten minutes yesterday morning, and had to move the chair to a shady spot because of the uncomfortableness. I’m not sure if I’m just getting old, but I sure don’t remember being this much of a wuss when I was younger. And of course as it gets cooler in the evening, mosquito nation decides to rise up.

I’ve also noticed that I don’t see kids out just playing. Maybe I’m not in an area with a lot of kids—oh wait, I am. I remember kids playing hockey in the streets, catch in the yards, tag and the like. Now kids are too busy with camps and travel leagues and stuff to just do kid stuff. Don’t get me wrong; I love having my kids be able to go and play with other kids in a supervised setting. I’m thinking more about the older kids—the ones who should be able to be unsupervised. I don’t see any of them just out playing.

Most of all though, as I ponder the final days of summer—break anyway—I’m drawn to what I like most about it: being with Jen and the kids. We’ve done a lot of fun stuff, from Great America to camping, to swimming, to gardening, to taking walks…we’ve had a fun summer. I also think about summer projects, and how I seem to have put them off until these last weeks of break. I think perhaps I’ve put them off because they remind me of working and working reminds me of being away and being away is what I like least about summer ending. I truly cherish the time I get to spend with my wife—she is pretty amazing—and my kids—they’re pretty cool. This summer I’ve witnessed Girly and Little grow from little kids to kids; she’s gone on a number of sleep-overs and is getting braces next week, and he’s trying new things—he even went tubing/skiing today! Mini and Tiny also seem older; Mini can ride a two-wheeler, while Tiny rides a scooter and swims by himself! Even Baby seems older, as she’s finding her voice. Without my summer break I might miss all these things. And I would surely miss watching how wonderful my wife is with everything she does. So as I prepare to end my summer break, I hope to take with me all the things I’ve gained these couple months, so I can be the best I can be for the best family I know.