When I first became a mother, with my first child barely a year old, I encountered another mother with older children who told me, “You only get eighteen summers with your kids. After that, they’re gone, just like that,” as she snapped her fingers and gestured dramatically. I tried to empathize, but honestly, I didn’t grasp the weight of her words; the sight of school supplies in stores felt exhilarating—a new realm to explore!
Fast forward twelve years, and I now have four children. I’ve come to realize that those eighteen summers may not even be a full count. As children grow, summer jobs, internships, mission trips, and sleepaway camps become commonplace, and the kids who once filled our days with their need for entertainment now have their own busy schedules. This year feels especially poignant as my oldest approaches her thirteenth birthday.
Thirteen marks her official entry into the teenage years, and it’s a bittersweet milestone for me. I find myself grappling with the reality that I only have five more summers left with her. Five feels like such a small number. I recognize that these remaining summers won’t be packed with endless pool parties, library visits, or lazy days at the beach. I’ve noticed changes in her this year: she’s becoming more independent, capable of sleeping through the night, and increasingly eager to spend time with her friends. While I understand that this independence is a natural part of her development—and a sign that we’ve done our job as parents—I still wish to cherish our outings to the waterpark and science museum. I want her to relish building forts with her siblings in our pajamas and enjoy crafting projects like popsicle-stick dollhouses.
However, parenting often requires us to prioritize our children’s needs over our own desires. As summer draws to a close and the school year begins, I feel a sense of loss. This transition marks the end of a chapter, and endings have always been a challenge for me.
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In summary, the fleeting nature of childhood summers is a poignant reminder for parents to cherish every moment. As children grow, the dynamics of family life shift, making it essential to embrace the time we have together, even as we navigate the inevitable changes that come with growth.