I saw a meme that hit me hard. It said, “Fourth of July is over. It’s time to get your back to school supplies, and Halloween costumes, and Thanksgiving menus, and Christmas shopping done now, because it’s basically 2023. Happy New Year.” @Momsbehavingbadly nailed it, and sent me into a bit of a panic that I hadn’t done anything “fun” with my kids this summer. Rather than basking in my summer woes, I opted to start fresh. I asked my 5 year old if he wanted to head to Destin Commons to play in the splash pad and on the play structures. He was pumped, as we haven’t done much of this since before his brother was born.
I pre-dressed both children, and did my best to leave all expectations parked in the car once we got there. It wasn’t super busy for a Friday, but it was busy enough, with a handful of kids running and splashing and making every moment count. I sat on the bench and tried to soak it all in for about 30 seconds before my youngest started to pull me into the water. As I looked around, I looked for my 5 year old, and was shocked to see he was one of the biggest children there.
When did that happen? Where did my squishy toddler go, and who is this lanky kid in his place? This made me sad all over again, and when my husband called to say he was on his way, we opted to head to an early dinner as a family. My 5 year old is a bit of a cooking show fiend, so we took him to Osaka for Hibachi; he learned to use chopsticks, tried fried rice for the first time, and loved both the fire and the cooking table side.
Later that night while putting him to bed, he said a prayer of thanks for a great day playing at home, and for going out to play at the splash pad and dinner with his family. He put just as much emphasis on playing at home, as he did going out, and that got me going all over again. My summer woes were for nothing. He didn’t care that we haven’t done a trip, that I don’t have each day planned with Pinterest worthy activities, or play dates set up in a house that constantly looks like a bomb went off. He’s just happy that I let him stay in his PJ’s and play, and that occasionally, he gets a “Master Chef Jr.” quality meal. He isn’t looking for big splashy activities, he’s just looking for fun, and I hope when he remembers his summers, he remembers his crazy “Momba” running through the splash pad fully clothed, staying in PJ’s with him all day, planting flowers, playing in the pool and being supportive of his dreams. Because at the end of the day, love and support are really all that matters.
Any good tips for the first day of Kindergarten, leave them for me in the comments. I’m about to be a mess in August. Keep on keeping on, and Happy parenting!
