18 summers, give or take a few.
That’s how many summers most of us will have with our children before they leave our homes.
I read once about a mom who put 18 rocks in a jar. At the end of each summer, she removed a rock. As each year passed, the jar looked more and more empty, reminding her of how fast time was passing.
The truth is, it’s tempting to wish the days away…especially the long, difficult days.
It’s tempting to anticipate the next stage so much that we miss the beauty of the stage we’re in.
Last night, I joined a Facebook chat with a bunch of other moms. One of the questions was, “What’s one thing you know you’ll miss when your kids are older?”
The responses made me smile:
- “Cuddles…definitely the cuddles.”
- “Their sweet tiny voices.”
- “Piggy back rides.”
- “Hugs and snuggles.”
- “The way they say words wrong, like ‘pasgetti’ for spaghetti.”
- “Bedtime stories and snuggles.”
- “The barrage of questions.”
- “Their innocence.”
The hard moments might tempt us to wish the days away, but we know we’ll miss them once they’re gone.
We have fewer than 20 summers with our kids, so let’s make them count! Here are some suggestions to help.
How to Make This Summer Count:
1. Plan for fun.
At the beginning of the summer, make a list of some fun things you’d like to do. Then put these activities on your calendar. In my home, if something’s not on the calendar, it might not get done, so get it on the calendar before the calendar fills up!
2. Plan to breathe.
Instead of filling each day with activities that keep you on the go from sunup to sundown, build in space for rest. Build in time to play. Build in time to just be with your kids and enjoy them. Make sure your list of fun things isn’t so long that you don’t have time to be at home all summer long!
3. Plan to learn.
Sign your kids up for some local education events. Many libraries offer free summer reading programs with events and prizes. Ours offers free library cards during the summer months too. Take advantage of the educational activities your town has to offer. Don’t forget about museums, zoos, wildlife centers, fish hatcheries, parks, libraries, Vacation Bible Schools, and art studios.
4. But most of all, plan to be in the moment.
Sure, some of the moments might be hard. Kids will get cranky, tempers will flare, and we’ll lose our patience. But this is life…and life is made up of moments like these.
What other tips would you add to this list to help make your summer count?
Lindsey Bell is the author of Unbeaten and of Searching for Sanity. She’s also a stay-at-home mother of two, minister’s wife, avid reader, and chocolate lover. You can find Lindsey online at her website: www.lindseymbell.com.
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