Summer fun

Summers are made for kids.  Or maybe, those who act like kids.  Too often, in my opinion, the population set of those who act like kids is unfortunately limited to actual kids, so this summer, I’m vowing to act more like a kid.  I’m a civil servant like that.  

If this weekend was any indication, we’re off to a great start.  The temperatures were forecasted to be very warm, definitely the hottest of the season so far.  “We need a pool,” I concluded Saturday morning, and dragged out the small wading pool from the garage to fill with water.  That project took all of about five minutes because our pool is a glorified bird bath and holds three inches of water.  “Well, we need a bigger pool,” I said matter-of-factly.  In the midst of mentally strategizing about upgraded pool options, I also got out the sprinkler, because no hot day is complete without that.  As I watched the kids run back and forth through the sprays of water, my two-year-old walked over, raised her hand to me and said, “Mommy, we go a-gether (together).”  I was not wearing a swimming suit (rookie mistake), but it didn’t take long to determine that the pros outweighed the cons in this situation.  I took her hand and we ran through the sprinkler together, giggling and squealing as the cold water tickled our skin.

The next step after lunch was to take the kids to the toy store to pick up a larger, inflatable backyard pool (naptime can wait – it’s summer after all).  Key pool requirement: something big enough for Mom to sit in.  I was quite possibly more excited than they were at this point.  I was laser focused on all options the toy store had to offer for water fun, while they were distracted by everything else shiny and noisy.  After providing the allotted time to sit in the Power Wheels, and herding them away from assorted sizes of plush characters, we landed on a great option.  They also each picked out a camp chair, because, well, you need somewhere to sit and dangle your feet by the pool. 

We headed home, and while the littles rested I inflated the pool and filled it with water (18 inches now as opposed to three – we’re moving on up!).  I then put on my swimming suit and eagerly waited for them to wake up.  I was reminiscing about the summers of my childhood when we filled the pool in our backyard, demolishing the grass in its wake.  I felt a familiar anticipation as the hose slowly filled the pool with cool water, and I scooped out the stray bug or leaf that managed to float in.  I used to treat that small backyard pool as a legit Olympic experience – donning goggles and awkwardly trying to accomplish all the same acrobatic feats I could perform in the five foot depth of the local public pool. 

Massive amounts of sunscreen later, and we were in.  It was glorious.  My only regret was that the kids’ attention span for the luxuries of the pool was not as long as my own.  I would have loved to lounge there for hours, but they were lured away by all other forms of backyard fun.  Namely, the neighbor’s swingset which they so graciously allow our children to use.  We wore a path in the grass running back and forth between the swings and the pool in our bare feet.  Playing outside in bare feet – when was the last time I did that?!  Talk about embracing childhood again. 

After repeated pleas from my toddler to push her on the swings, I was once again standing by the swingset while they soared through the air.  My son, who changed my life a couple years ago when he started to pump his legs on the swings and no longer required pushing, was happily climbing higher and higher in the air.   “Hey Mom,” he said, “If I close my eyes when I’m swinging really high it feels like I’m flying!”  YES, I thought to myself.  You’re SO right!  I remember doing that very same thing when I was a kid.  Closing my eyes and flying high on the swing set, pockets of brightness permeating my eyelids as the sunshine peeked through the treetops while I would swing back and forth.  That sensation was buried deep in my memory, and it just took someone verbalizing it so perfectly for me to immediately recall it.  My daughter quickly picked up on big brother’s fun (as she always does) and began instructing me to “Push me high, and I close my eyes and fly.”  After giving her an underdog (that’s still a thing and my kids know the name of it!), she smiled widely, eyes shut tight and said, “I flying, Mommy!!!  I flying!”  It darn near brings me to tears to see my kids so happy about something so simple. 

Yes, my loves.  FLY.  Experience life.  Embrace your childhood.  Be free and have fun, this is what I wish for you.  The serious business of growing up will come later, but you’re little and it’s summer.  Shoes and socks optional.  My only request is that you let me join you.  I promise to supply lemonade and popsicles, picnic lunches and dry towels.  I will keep our little pool filled up and bug-free.  I will accompany you on bike rides and backyard adventures.  Let’s hold hands, laugh in the sunshine, and lay on our backs and look at the clouds.  Let’s fall into bed at night smelling of sunscreen and ice cream.  Summer has a way of slowing down time and making our little corner of the world so vibrant and carefree.  We could all use a little more of that.