As we lounged by the lake one evening, my friend Anna posed a question that struck a chord: “Is this the last summer like this?” We watched our kids—her 11-year-old daughter perfecting her crawl toward the floating dock, her dad swimming alongside, cheering her on. Meanwhile, her teenager was nestled in a beach chair, lost in a book, while our 5-year-olds splashed joyfully in the kiddie area. My toddler was busy transferring sand from a bulldozer to a plastic bucket, only to dump it out again.
I instinctively replied, “Oh, there will be plenty more summers like this,” but deep down, I understood her sentiment. Her teenager would head off to college in just a year, and this might be the last summer the 11-year-old would prefer swimming with family rather than hanging out with older kids. The 5-year-olds wouldn’t be confined to the kiddie area for long—they’d soon be making their own way to the floating dock. And the toddler? He’d be swimming before we knew it.
Next summer, everything will change. My little one won’t need to be carried around as often, and I won’t hear compliments about my “cute baby” since he won’t be a baby any longer. The 5-year-olds will grow taller, their faces will slim down, and I’ll notice the need for new pants as they stretch out. Questions about naughty words might begin, and I can already imagine the eye rolls and the self-sufficient snack raids instead of asking for help.
By next summer, I might find myself being called “Mom” rather than “Mama.” Diapers, strollers, and sippy cups will likely be a thing of the past, and our vacation plans will be dictated by school schedules. In just a few more summers, my older son might even prefer summer camp over our cherished lake-house getaways.
“What if, once she’s in college,” Anna mused about her teenager, “she wants to spend her summers at home? What if this is the last summer all our kids are together on this trip?” My friend David, who is preparing to send his lone child off to college, chimed in, “This is the last summer I’ll have a kid at home, period.”
As parents, we quickly realize that no moment is ever the same as the one before (well, except during those exhausting newborn days when time seems to stand still). Children grow at an astonishing pace—on the drive back from the lake, I sent Anna’s middle child into the bakery to grab some bread, and the child who returned looked years older than the one who had left. Sometimes, I catch myself searching the playground for my younger son, only to see my tall boy standing right in front of me, reminding me just how fast they grow.
Tonight marks the final night of our vacation, and I’m listening to the cicadas herald the end of summer. My sons are giggling away, even though bedtime has long passed—still sharing a room because they love the late-night chats after lights-out. Could this be the last summer they want to sleep together? Is it the last summer they’ll find joy in sparklers or fireflies?
Summer, our favorite season and the longest break from our hectic routines, is a time filled with moments that seize my heart. I can’t help but feel the bittersweet nature of time slipping away like water through my fingers as my boys grow older. Soon enough, they will be grown and may not be here at all, leaving my husband and me to fall asleep to the cicadas in solitude.
Being a parent expands your perspective; you start to see what’s ahead, much like the prophetess Cassandra. Yet every other parent knows this too. You realize that the older generations won’t always gather around the dinner table, and the younger ones won’t always fit on your lap. Time moves forward relentlessly, even in those long, lazy July days. This is indeed the last summer exactly like this.
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Summary: As summer draws to a close, a mother reflects on the fleeting moments shared with her children and the inevitable changes that come with time. Each summer brings new experiences, and the realization that each one is unique leads to a bittersweet appreciation of childhood. The article highlights the importance of cherishing these fleeting moments while recognizing the transitions that lie ahead.