“Is this the last summer like this?” my friend asked as we relaxed by the lake one evening, watching our children swim. Her 11-year-old daughter was honing her crawl with her dad cheering her on as they made their way to the floating dock. Meanwhile, her teenager lounged in a beach chair, engrossed in a book, while our younger kids splashed around in the kiddie area. My toddler was busy transferring sand from a bulldozer to a bucket, only to dump it out again.
I reassured her, “Of course, there will be many more summers like this,” but deep down, I understood her sentiment. With her teenager heading off to college soon, this could very well be the last summer when the 11-year-old prefers family fun over hanging out with older kids. The days of the 5-year-olds being limited to the kiddie area are numbered; soon they will be swimming out to the floating dock themselves. And my little one? He’ll be learning to swim before we know it.
Next summer, everything will be different. Sure, they’ll still be kids, but they’ll have changed. My 2-year-old won’t need to be carried as often, and the adorable “baby” comments will fade as he grows. Our 5-year-olds will stretch taller and lose that cherubic roundness, and I’ll find myself needing to buy new pants as my son’s ankles start to show. They may start asking about inappropriate words or exhibit the first signs of pre-teen attitude. Maybe they’ll even start getting their own snacks instead of asking for them, or they won’t need tucking in at night.
By the next summer, I might find myself being called “Mom” instead of “Mama.” We could be past diapers, strollers, and sippy cups; our family vacations might be dictated by school schedules. A few summers later, my older son might prefer camp over our cherished lake-house getaway.
“What if, once she’s at college,” my friend confided about her teenager, “she decides to spend summers at home? What if this is the final summer all our kids are together on this vacation?” My other friend, Jake, preparing to send his only child off to university, remarked, “This is the last summer I’ll have a kid at home.”
As parents, every moment feels unique and fleeting (except for those sleep-deprived newborn nights, which seem to stretch on forever). Kids grow up in the blink of an eye—just the other day, when my friend and I drove home from the lake, her middle child walked into a bakery, and the child who came out looked significantly older. I often feel like I’m lagging behind with my own son; I’ll be searching for him at the playground when suddenly, a tall kid appears, and I realize it’s him, towering over where I expected him to be.
Tonight marks the last night of our vacation, and I can hear the cicadas signaling the end of summer. My sons are giggling, blissfully ignoring their bedtime. They still want to share a room, even though they don’t have to, staying up late to laugh and talk. Is this the last summer they’ll want to bunk together? Will they soon find sparklers boring or fireflies less exciting?
Summer, our favorite season, offers a break from the hectic morning routines and rushed dinners. It’s filled with moments that tug at my heart, reminding me how swiftly time passes, like water slipping through my fingers as my boys grow taller and more independent. One day, they’ll be all grown up, and my husband and I will find ourselves falling asleep to the cicadas alone.
Being a parent broadens your perspective: you become acutely aware of what’s ahead, like a modern-day Cassandra. Other parents share this awareness, knowing that the older generation will someday be absent from the dinner table and that the younger ones will outgrow our laps. Time always moves forward, even in those long, lazy July days. This is indeed the last summer exactly like this.
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Summary
As summer comes to a close, it’s a poignant reminder of how quickly our children grow and how precious these moments are. Each summer marks a unique chapter in our family’s journey. The inevitability of change looms as we cherish the laughter and joy of these fleeting days, knowing that next year will bring new challenges and milestones.
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