It's that time of year again. Summer. Although we extended our school year into later days of June than ever before, it is now over, and this long month of July stretches before me. I'm sure the kids love it, but I hate it. Days with no plans. Some would find that relaxing, but I find it...boring and a little lonely.
I guess what it comes down to is the fact that there are, at times, days in a row during the summer where I go without any adult interaction. Sometimes I look at the "olden days" with a little envy. True, today I can turn on the TV and bring whomever happens to be on the screen into my home; I can turn on the computer and there are the faces of my 500+ Facebook friends; I can flip open my phone, punch in a few words, and almost instantly I'll receive a response.
But it's not the same as the days of yore when life was slower and less hectic. These were days when neighbors knew each other and could be counted on to help each other out. These were days when children could play outside all day wherever they wanted with less fear of becoming a headline. These were days when people sat on their porches talking and watching the world go by. These were days where your husband worked down at the general store on the corner and came home at lunch for a meal and a nap.
At least that's how I imagine those days were. And don't get me wrong: I have friends--real friends, not just virtual ones--and even a couple who live within spitting distance and would come running if I needed them. It's just a different world today where Things to Do usually cost a fortune. And it's not always that easy to find where your schedule intersects friends' schedules.
So I'm tackling it a week at a time. Trying to find fun, inexpensive things to do that aren't too far from home. I've got next week filled with visits to a state park the kids have never been to as well as a nature center none of us has visited. We'll also brave the free mall movie again just because it's a different setting than home. Maybe we'll do some late night swimming too; even the pool gets boring after awhile, but night swimming? Totally awesome according to the kids.
As for me, what I'd like to be doing is planning the next school year, but my neck still hurts like crazy and hunching over a textbook or the computer does not help. At all.
6 comments:
I'm so sorry your neck isn't better! Any medical idea as to when it will be? =/
Funny, what you described is a lot of what I had when I was young. We even had 4-square in the street.
My baby gets water balloons every year. For $5.00 @ Wal-Mart, you get a kajillion balloons and the little plastic thing to attach to a spigot to fill them. It's one of her favorite things about summer. Sadly, the older folks (siblings & parents) don't always want to do that with her. But when they were younger they all loved it anytime. Apparently, nothing beats pelting each other with water bombs. ;o)
You could come and spend a weekend here when Travel Daddy is gone and let yours enjoy the war!
He's welcome, too, of course. But I'm assuming you'd want to be home with him if he's not traveling.
Sorry to hear that your neck isn't better :( I'm still working on my neck issues as well--I got a new chiropractor who has me stretching out over an exercise ball. We'll see how that goes.
I hear you about the days of old thing. In many ways, I think those were good times, but I also think the women spent most of their time fixing the next meal. And ironing. A lot of ironing.
It sounds like you have some good adventures planned. Embrace the time with your kiddos--it goes so fast.
I don't know WHAT is up with my neck!! The chiropractor doesn't really give me a diagnosis--just treatment after treatment which costs co-pay after co-pay. Grrr!!! Cynthia, let me know how that ball therapy goes!
Water balloon fight? We may have to head down to Podunk! Thanks for the invite!
We still have to do our time capsule for this summer. I say that as though it is an annual thing with us, when in reality is a new tradition I hope to start. I know they love to look at their old "About ME" sheets.
I hear ya though about the olden days. If we could pick and choose the moments of today and yesterday and combine them for the perfect world. :-)
i love this post. (besides the neck part - sorry :-( ) it's so intriguing thinking of a style of life that has seemed to pass us by. i do think we get snippets of it but to LIVE that life, sure makes me imagine.
I'm so sorry about your neck! Take it as a sign that you're supposed to just relax and enjoy these summer days and weeks!! Read...rest...enjoy!! Right at the moment, I would give anything for a little bit of boredom!!! :-)
Hope you're feeling better soon!! And I hope these next few weeks turn in to the best EVER!!
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