The Strain of a Busy Adult Summer Can Slip Away With a Trip Down Memory Lane
I have a hard time waking up in the morning. Always have. Is there anyone out there that can fly out of bed?
Anyway, I semi-dress and groom myself and start my day with a sprint of tasks to get my kids off to their day summer camp. Lunches made, sunscreen applied, tech-ready, shoes on, and bikes packed. Of course, they’re dressed, and teeth brushed too!
Buckled in and off we go.
I park and struggle to unload their bikes and helmets out of my trunk. They help me walk their cycles to the front entrance and chatter about what the day will bring them. All the possibilities! Meanwhile, I’m loaded with bags of all their stuff hanging from my limbs and neck, trying to keep up.
This summer I can’t seem to keep up.
I feel the strain of tasks and responsibilities as a parent with the influx of busy schedules, the financial woes of camp, and the fact that summer doesn’t bring me the breaks like it used to.
But, more importantly, I wonder how my kids feel about summertime.
My hope is they don’t feel any kind of strain or problems. I wish for them to have the happy-go-lucky sensation of school free time, hanging with their friends, enjoying their bike and splash days. And I think they do with the way they walk out of the camp every day swinging their lunch bags and singing songs. Telling me about the snack or club of the day, while asking me what’s for dinner!
Summertime should be uncomplicated, and undemanding. Right?! Fewer plans. Breezy, and lazy. I contemplate this as I drive home to start my work day. Sublime begins to play over the radio “summertime and the living’s easy,” bringing me back to my childhood where I have (mostly) fond memories!
My generation X summers as I remember them
Riding my bike everywhere, on every kind of road and street to get to my friend's house.
Running around with the neighborhood crew, playing kick the can, capture-the-flag, or just hanging. We never called ahead, and just showed up. Sometimes I’d be there so early I was waking my friends up.
Babysitting ourselves at the pool, till our fingers were wrinkled, and our eyes were bloodshot; eating scooter crunches, and cheese popcorn, listening to Madonna, TLC, Salt N Pepper, and whatever 80s music was on the radio.
Stopping by my grandparent’s place for food, or just say hi. They only lived a 5-minute walk away. We were always over there for Saturday breakfast and Sunday lunch.
Watching my kid brother, who was 7 years younger than me. Scary, parents did that back then. Maybe they still do?!
Riding my bike down to the corner convenience store for soda and candy. Occasionally the vending machine would spit out a can of coke with a different logo on it. Neat! And I’d buy Swedish fish and gummy worms.
Waiting for my parental units to turn on the air conditioner in the living room, which usually wasn’t till the middle of July. (I ended up buying my own bedroom unit with my allowance.)
Watching TGIF or old movies with my youngest brother in my room with the air-conditioner I bought.
Overnight stays with girlfriends for the weekend or the whole week. Eating chips and dip, bologna sandwiches, and living outside the entire time!
And then getting the worst case of poison ivy known to man and being quarantined for 2 weeks (Although the plus side of this rash meant my parents would turn on the air conditioning in the living room early!)
Reading my mom’s Danielle Steele books, or whatever library books I could borrow.
Playing solitaire with a deck of cards (I found out later in life, that the cards I was using were never a full deck. Apparently, my mother got a big kick out of it but didn’t tell me. I don’t hold it against her o:)).
Recording songs off the stereo, so I could take my cassette player with me and listen to it on our annual beach trip.
Playing backgammon, speed, or spit at the park with friends. Another place that babysat us for the summer.
Sunbathing and buying a bazillion bathing suits. I couldn’t have just one, can anyone?
Eating frozen yogurt for breakfast every day.
Calling my girlfriends on my see-through landline phone to make plans and talk for hours.
I had plenty of carefree summers, and thinking about these past memories has me smiling, laughing, and slowing down. I take a deep breath and ease into my day. Life is busier, but remembering the good ole days has me understanding what I had and where I am. And watching my kids enjoying summer is beautiful.
I can’t live at the pool and playground anymore, but I can still eat ice cream for breakfast! Who knows maybe I can even get the neighbors to play kick the can too.
