18 Summers/Years of Childhood
We have eighteen summers with our kids. Eighteen summers where they’re ours for the whole summer.
Writing that is a smack in the face. I hope that reading it has the same effect. Personally, I need that smack constantly to wake me from the daily drone of monotony.
This is your life and theirs. It’s your life together as a family. We have eighteen years to really make it memorable.
Each year we take trips as a family. Some are planned out in advance, and some are taken spur of the moment. These trips are essential for a few reasons.
- They give us a chance to plan together. This can be an enjoyable process. Deciding where to go and what to do.
- It gives us something to look forward to. For my wife and I, it’s the “vacation” we’re looking forward to. For the kids, it’s an exciting adventure.
- It allows us to bond as a family while we’re there.
As I write this, I’m reflecting on this past summer. It was great! I think it was the best summer we’ve had as a family.
It was the first summer I felt we could travel and have fun with it instead of being more trouble than just staying home.
When my kids were younger, it was a hassle to travel anywhere. They didn’t like the sand, so the beach was short-lived.
At least one of the kids had to nap mid-day. We didn’t get much vacationing between the nap, snacks, bottle feeding, diaper changes, and more. We didn’t have a good flow.
It was to the point where I didn’t care to travel. But this year was different. My kids love the beach, no naps, no bottles or diapers, and my kids are old enough to do fun stuff. My son is six, and my daughter is three.
Things we did this summer:
Bethany Beach with Friends
This was such an incredible trip. We stayed in a condo on the beach, which made it easy.
The convenience factor was a ten. We were on the beach, so walking back and forth to the condo was easy.
The building also had a pool for when the kids wanted to swim. They’re still a little too young to really enjoy the ocean.
There were restaurants, a beer store, and a CVS within walking distance, which added to the convenience factor.
There were also a ton of things within a short drive. The main one for us was Funland in Rehoboth, DE.
That place is incredible! It has all kinds of great rides for kids their age.
They also have all the fun carnival games, video games, and more. It’s right on the boardwalk, which adds an excellent option to check out other stuff and just people-watch.
The kids had so much fun that we hit Funland on two different days. A little secret is to go between 1-4pm, and you can pay $20 for “all you can ride” bracelets.
New Bern, NC, and Beaufort/Atlantic Beach, NC
This is always a good trip; we usually make it a couple of times a year. However, this year was the best.
My sister-in-law and her family have a house on the river in New Bern, NC. It’s great! They have a boat and jet ski outside, and it’s endless entertainment.
They also rented a house in Beaufort, NC, this year. It’s a great little town on the water, which feeds into the ocean.
It’s just across the bridge from Atlantic Beach, where my wife’s family grew up going. We use the boat and jet ski from here, and spend the whole day on the water.
The kids can swim now, so they had the best time being out there all day.
Jacksonville, FL.
Like the North Carolina getaway, we have a free place to stay here!
My parents are there, and so is my sister with her family. We visited the beach, spent a ton of time in the pool, and also visited Legoland.
Legoland is a hidden gem!
It’s not far from Disney World, but it has a totally different feel. The rides are perfect for younger kids.
The best part is it wasn’t packed, so we didn’t have to worry about lines. My sister has been there many times with her kids and said it was more crowded that day compared to what she’s experienced.
I can’t imagine it being more wide open!
We Also Did Fun Things Around Town Locally
Local Fair
We hit this every year, and it’s a blast. It’s becoming even more fun as they get older.
My son and I did the drop zone ride, and I’m not gonna lie. I let out a yelp when it dropped. He was quiet as a mouse though.
We rode the swing, little roller coaster, burlap sac slide, and played a few games.
It was awesome, and we can’t wait for next year.
Garden Center
This seems so small, but the kids love the garden center. Based on the size of our vegetable garden, so do I!
They ride in and load the plants up in the wagon. It’s fun. We also come home with way too many plants.
Batting Cages
I always loved the batting cages as a kid. My son is still a little too young, but it was a great time. The baseball cages were too fast for him, so I had him hit on the softball pitch. He loved it!
WWE
I grew up a Hulkamaniac, so I had to show my son some WWE. I took him to a show at Eaglebank Arena, and whoa! That was wild.
I hadn’t watched wrestling since I was a little kid, and I had only been to one live match, so I didn’t know what to expect. He loved it.
It was a ton of action and kept him entertained. The people-watching was great, so I loved it. It was a show!
Local Pool
We’re on a waiting list for our local pool, but we were able to buy August passes.
It ended up working out, and we were here almost the whole month. We tried to make the most of it and went as much as possible.
It was incredible because a lot of the kids’ friends were there. You can never underestimate the value of the local pool.
Museum
We live just outside Washington, DC, so we have great options for museums. They’re free, and the kids love them. My favorite is the National History Museum. My kids’ favorite is the Natural History Museum.
Life Hurdles
The kids spent so much time in the water that my son is swimming well now, and my daughter has started swimming.
The stress relief that comes along with kids who can swim is fantastic!
My son started riding his bike without training wheels. It’s like watching him learn to walk all over again.
The excitement that comes along with the freedom of no training wheels is electric.
My daughter’s personality is coming to life. She’s a totally different person than my son, and I love watching who she is taking shape.
K.I.S.S.
This past summer was great, but the goal is to make every day extraordinary. Not just the summers, but every day we have with our kids in those eighteen years while they’re children with us.
The sad part is, one day they won’t want to go to the fair with us. They won’t care about the garden center.
They’ll be off with their friends to the pool instead of with us. All of the little things will be taken away.
We can’t forget that every day matters. We only have a limited time and can’t get that time back.
Keep It Simple Stupid. It’s the simple interactions that I have with my kids that I love the most.
- Watching them play with each other and learn from each other. The kids’ friends come over to play, and we hear their back-and-forth commentary. It’s hilarious!
- My son learning to ride his bike and him loving the freedom that comes with it.
- The kids requesting permission to go to a friend’s house to play. Then watching them sprint with excitement to their house. More freedom from mom and dad!
- Playing with older kids in the neighborhood. Why are older kids so cool, but older adults aren’t?
- Throwing batting practice to my son on the field up the street.
- Finger painting with my daughter.
- Picking vegetables from our garden with the kids.
- Going on family hikes around the neighborhood.
- Blow-up waterslide in the backyard.
- Basketball in the driveway.
- There are a million different fun things that you can do with your kids at home.
Being part of these naïve experiences all over again is incredible. Not the same experience as living them myself as a kid, but fun in a different way.
Truth is, life can get boring. Nothing surprises you when you get past the point of naivety, where things are new and exciting.
The first time you do anything is the best. Always! It’s the excitement of knowing that it can be done and that you did it. Feeling it for the first time. There’s a feeling there that can’t be replicated.
Seeing my kids go through this is one of the best feelings in the world. Being there for the first time moments. Being there for the second or third time when they’re past the point of innocence and begin to master the process.
These are feelings that I don’t believe you can replicate later in life. But to be there to witness my kids go through it is a close second.
This summer’s trips were great, but it’s not all about vacations or significant planned events. The goal is to make every day extraordinary. Not just the summers but every day we have with our kids in those eighteen years while they’re children with us. Make everyday matter.
It Doesn’t Have To End When They Turn Eighteen
My mom was in town a couple weeks ago, and we all went to dinner as a family.
While we were out, I ran into a friend’s wife who was out with her kids. I talked with her a bit and asked her where her husband was. She replied, “He’s on his yearly father-son trip. This year they’re in Switzerland.”
What?! A yearly father-son trip…this year, it’s in Switzerland?! That is so freaking awesome!
What an example of getting out there and living.
He’s not under their roof or their control, but he’s still choosing to make lasting memories with his dad and vice versa.
I definitely took some notes from that brief encounter. I’m not here writing this thinking that I’m perfect. I’m far from it. I’m trying harder every day to make a bigger impact in my life and my kids lives.
Get out there and be somebody!
