Summer Magic

Summer

July 1, 2013

I’m sitting outside right now with a laptop on my lap (oh how I wish I had a smaller, faster one--but I digress) watching my boys play.  Aaron’s mouth is stained blue from a popsicle he just ate.  Ethan’s brows are furrowed in concentration has he busily plans the outdoor “mall” he’s creating in our yard.  Watching them makes me think, “there really is something magical about summer.”

I love all the usual things of summer: barbecues, pool parties, baseball, watermelon, beach trips, staying up late, reading books hours at a time.  The magic of summer goes beyond those things though.  I think it’s about getting to say “yes” more often.  During the school year when my boys ask me questions too often the answer is in the realm of “not tonight, Honey” or “I’m so tired right now.”  I try really hard to finish my day early so that I can be a focused, fun mother, but still the rigors of being a working mom during the school year wear me out and push aside some of my kids’ most creative fancies.  During the summer, though, I can give into their pleas more readily.  “Can we put up a tent today?” Sure, why not?  “Can we go get some ice cream?” That sounds really good.  “Can I play out in the mud?”  No problem, we’ll just have baths before dinner.  Being a Yes Mom can be very satisfying.

When I look back at summers of my childhood I realize another part of the magic: summer is for spending time with different people, in a fun, clubhouse sort of way.  Since so many of my summer weekends were spent at softball tournaments, my teammates became my best (and only?) friends during those three months.  When not on the field we spent so much time swimming, taking breaks only for mac n’ cheese with hot dogs, and then jumping back in again (well, after waiting the thirty minutes our parents insisted on).  We went to Padres games sometimes and watched baseball movies on TV.  When the school year started up again we’d all go our different ways into different schools and different grades, but in the summer we really were queens of the diamonds and best friends in between games. I also spent lots of time with my neighbors and with my cousins, and with my sister (I suppose my parents were there too), and am glad that we had such a safe neighborhood to play in.

My boys are too young to have dedicated teammates, and unfortunately don’t have many other kids in their neighborhood, but they do have their cousins.  This summer the four Worthen boys are spending lots of time together doing some preschool lessons and lots of outdoor fun.  Having all four of them at once is completely exhausting, but also really neat to see.  They are getting to form their first real close relationships with people outside their immediate families.  They are learning how to play together and make compromises, and to avoid too much trouble.  They are having a Phineas and Ferb summer, with exciting adventures every day.  The Worthen boys may not remember the specifics of this summer when they grow up, but I really think the magic of this summer will help them in their regular lives, and will make a positive impact on their minds and on their views towards summer.  

Perhaps the magic of summer also includes work as well as play.  Despite what people presume, many teachers really do spend a lot of time working on their unpaid vacations.  I tend to really enjoy my summer work as it gives me a chance to be creative and to try new things.  It’s also satisfying to know that the more I get done in the summer, the less I’ll have to do in overtime hours during this school year.  I like watching my kids do summer work too like chores and reading and art projects.  It’s good to feel successful and summer is the perfect time to check some things off the list.  

Alas it is time to sign off.  Everything in the mall has been bought, Daddy’s cookies have been devoured, and now the boys want to play baseball.  I’m biased of course but I think my little one might just end up being a decent pitcher (his arm really is good for a two-year-old) and the big one is really starting to hit hard.  They aren’t yet old enough to play sports by themselves, and really, why would I want to miss out on this anyway?