I once heard that you only get 18 summers with your children. 18 years to make the most of it before they fly the coop and never want to return. I bought into this hook, line, and sinker and will be the first to admit last summer was a hard one for me. Why? A quiet kind of panic was setting in. My firstborn, the one who made me a Mama is 19 years old this summer. Cry. It made my heart hurt. Did this mean she will no longer want to participate in all the crazy summer traditions and vacations? Forget that. I refuse to believe that at the age of 19 our summers must drastically change – but I will admit we are going to have to roll with the punches, adjust the expectations a wee bit. But I firmly believe just because our babies are no longer little that we can’t continue to live our very best lives.
This summer, more than ever before, we will be involving our kiddos in our summer plans and making sure that their vacation is busy, full of love and laughs and gives us all a chance to make those memories that will last a lifetime.
Here’s how we will be making this summer, the best summer ever – here’s our Summer Bucket List.
*One week at a cottage far far up north. This is one tradition that can’t be broken, but we’re mixing it up by bringing boyfriends this time. Good grief, wish me luck.
*Time at the beach. Any beach, all the beaches.
*Golf. It’s time to get in the swing and play at our favourite course. It’s never too late to learn to golf, or at least play a few holes and then head in for dinner!
*Pool Days. Hopefully, so many that we lose track.
*Road Trips. To explore beyond our city and escape the cell phones for a while. Cell phones are both friends and enemies. When you can get your teens to put those down for a while you are truly winning.
*Tree Top Trekking – To indulge the adventure seekers in the family it’s time to try some rope climbing and zip lining.
*Canada’s Wonderland – Because how can you go wrong when your day revolves around screaming on roller coasters and eating as much junk food as humanly possible.
*Movie Daze – Unplug from real life and take an entire day to escape to the roaring 20’s and fashion-forward 80’s with some classic flicks. If your babes don’t know the angst of Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club and 16 Candles have you really done your job?
*Shop ’til Will Drop – Before the end of the summer it’s time to max out those credit cards with a shopping trip like no other, you know, to show them that Mama has skillz.
Life is what you make it and joy can be found around every corner. I will not be defined by having only 18 summers with my kids, I will continue to hope my kids will always want to spend at least a little time with us each summer and when they really do fly the coop for good, rest easy in the knowledge that they will look back on their childhood summers with joy in their hearts and tears of laughter in their eyes.
Wishing you all a memorable, safe and joy-filled summer.
Summer just showed up this week here in Newfoundland ,thank goodness for sunny days !
To think we only have 18 summers with our children. I hear you about when they get older my oldest is 19 as well & my baby is not anymore, to continue the summer traditions will be this year and the following ones will have a few tweaks. Enjoy each moment & create long lasting memories they will remember. Love this post.
It is hard to get all the fun activities in during the summer.
Time does go by so quickly! I am so happy to spend the summers home with my kids. It gives me a chance to visit family more and creates more memories for all us all.
If you want to be out of cell-range, come visit the Yukon. Outside of Whitehorse, there are only small pockets here and there where there is cell coverage. The “cities” have it – Teslin, Haines Junction, Dawson City, Watson Lake – but for the most part, there’s no coverage. And the scenery will make you forget that you can’t use your phone!
We are on summer #6 with our first-born, I plan to make as many memories as I can with all 3 of my kiddos.
The hot days of Summer,hope it gets here soon!
I had empty nest syndrome really bad and I cried my heart out when my youngest flew out East for a one year course . Your summer plans for vacationing sound amazing and I hope you have a wonderful time and make some treasured memories. I love the bucket list you made.
Oh hugs to you! I hope you find some summer joy this season!
reminds me to appreciate this summer even more
This is a great post. I truly does put things in perspective.
Love this – except you couldn’t pay me enough to play golf
Happy Summer to you too! Summer doesn’t usually mean any type of break for me as I am a single parent and my kid is at camp or Summer School for the break. However, we do try and mix things up. I’m a nicer Mom during the Summer because I don’t have to push so much about homework. I just need to remember to take pictures WITH my kid this Summer because I don’t want to forget that we can be relaxed together.
I read that 18 summers post and I cried and then my husband read it and he had a tear too! We have lots of plans with the kids this summer and a few on our own too! Busy, but lots of down time too!
Wonderful post! Time does fly, my 5 are grown but we still continue to have road trips and beach days and movie nights!
We are just starting to experience our summer weather here in NB. I am hoping that over the next 2 months we can cram in a few visits to the beach, to the waterpark, to the surrounding Atlantic provinces for some day trips and to Montreal to visit our extended families…
I have heard that 18 summers quote before and it made me sad too. This is my 19th summer as a mom and I’m happy to say summers with my oldest are still going to happen. He is working and has a steady girlfriend but he still has time for family fun too. Our summer fun has definitely evolved over the years but it is far from over.