The first official week of summer has kicked off. The summer solstice was June 21, and boy it’s been a hot one! I don’t think the next few days are going to be any better, but I guess it wouldn’t be a typical High Plains summer without some 100-degree days, right?
The majority of my summer childhood memories consist of running around the outdoors, riding horses with my neighbors, picking tomatoes out of my Grandma’s garden or prepping my 4-H livestock projects for the county fair.
As an adult, the joy of spending time outside has carried on with me, but this summer has been hotter than usual as I just entered my third trimester of pregnancy, and my 2 ½- year-old daughter seems to think we need to spend about every bit of our time playing outside.
While I would rather spend these days in the nice A/C, I keep reminding myself, there will come a time when her summer will be filled up, and she won’t want to show me her chalk drawings, blow bubbles, help me water my plants or ask me to push her around on her pink John Deere bike. They grow up so fast, and nowadays it seems like kids’ summer schedules are just as busy as their school years. So, I’d better soak up these simple summer moments while I can.
Whatever it is you find yourself doing this summer, be in the moment, and cherish the time together with your family and friends, even if it’s 105 degrees, and the last thing you want to do is stack hay bales with your dad, fix fence or weed the garden. Enjoy this time of year. Wherever your summer schedule leads you, I hope you take the time to really absorb the small moments and sunshine!
And don’t forget to drink plenty of H2O and apply your sunscreen. Signed, a tired and hot, but grateful Mama.
Kylie Reiss can be reached at [email protected].
