Parenting
My Kids Have Embraced Their Wild Side This Summer
by Sarah Thompson
Updated: May 27, 2021
Originally Published: July 12, 2019
I can’t recall the last time my kids had a proper bath. They’ve been splashing in the pool daily for over a week and, honestly, at ages five, seven, and nine, I think that counts as hygiene. If you’re horrified by this, brace yourself, because my kids have truly gone wild this summer.
Let’s be real: I’m not losing sleep over it.
Summer is a magical time filled with sticky popsicles, red eyes from chlorine, and carefree days. It’s when I let my kids sleep in just their underwear because, why not? It’s hot! It might seem a bit out there, but they haven’t worn pajamas since April (summer comes early in the South). When bedtime hits, they simply strip down. Less laundry for me? That’s a definite win.
They’ve also taken to running around in their underwear for much of the day. It wasn’t a deliberate choice; it just sort of happened. Rather than lounging in pajamas, my little wildlings end up in their underwear. I often find myself admiring my seven-year-old’s independence—he occasionally dons shorts.
Their newfound freedom with clothing has led to one simple rule: you must wear something if you want to go outside. Yes, that includes the backyard. No, I don’t care if it’s invisible to the outside world; we have standards, albeit minimal ones.
As for the pool, it has become our makeshift bath. But there’s a downside: all that diving and flipping leaves their hair looking like a scene from “Back to the Future.” They’re too wild to brush their own hair, and I often forget to bring a hairbrush with us. So, at home, they resemble scruffy little sprites. If we venture out to Target, I wrangle them, wet their hair, and attempt to tame it while they fuss and complain.
Meal times have also become a free-for-all. Honestly, kids will eat when they want, and it’s my job to provide food, not shove it down their throats. We have a snack basket filled with healthy options, but “whenever you choose” has morphed into “constantly, even right before dinner.” At least they can serve themselves—score one for the little rascals!
Basically, my kids spend their days frolicking outdoors without shirts. They seem to have forgotten how to wear them and only put them on when we go somewhere that insists on it. I don’t enforce the shirt rule too strictly; they look too cute running around bare-chested, plus they refuse to wear them anyway.
Shoes are another story. Each child owns one pair, yet they can never find them—especially my five-year-old. So they run around barefoot, particularly in our yard and at the pool. The consequence? My seven-year-old now has plantar warts. We’ve told them to wear shoes, but hey, natural consequences and all that.
The joys of summer wildness don’t end there. They catch lizards and toads, and our guppies are now sharing space with tadpoles from my mother’s pond (my seven-year-old insists they’re gray tree frog babies). The pool is filled with other kids, and even the five-year-old has learned to swim underwater this year. My nine-year-old can perform a backward dive! They climb trees, scrape their knees, and tend to their own injuries. We set up sprinklers and buy squirt guns, and they chase the dogs while yelling and laughing, much to the neighbors’ dismay.
Life is good when you’re living freely—even if it’s in your underwear.
For more engaging stories, check out our blog on home insemination techniques here. And if you’re interested in learning more about self-insemination, check out these resources from Make a Mom and March of Dimes.
Summary: This summer, my kids have embraced a carefree lifestyle, opting for minimal clothing and maximum fun. From pool days serving as baths to snack time turning into a constant feast, it’s a wild ride. With their adventurous spirit, they’re climbing trees and catching critters, all while mastering the art of going feral in their own unique way.