When I was a kid, summer was a magical time full of fireflies and fireworks, sandals and sunblock, that never lasted long enough. But as an adult, a teacher, the months between May and September were nothing more to me than much needed time to tweak lesson plans and prepare for new students. Later, as a stay-at-home mom of very young boys, summer days were suddenly too hot, the baby gear too cumbersome to lug around, the SPF too low, the backyard too full of bugs. I had become a summertime Scrooge.
But this summer with WINK and SMILE has been fabulous so far. WINK is just beginning to swim. SMILE is becoming more verbal and showing off his brand of brilliance. They're both losing baby teeth faster than the tooth-fairy can fly, and doing chores without being asked...at least some of the time. My little ones are growing up and, now, I am looking ahead a few months to a very ugly time indeed: September will bring with it full-day school for my "baby" SMILE. My sweet WINK will go back to calling me Mom instead of Mommy, maybe this time without being reminded, and it will break my heart even as I give him a thumbs up for remembering this important social cue.
So I'll soak up the sun rays as they bring out WINK's auburn highlights and SMILE's blond ones. I'll breath in the scent of chlorine that lingers on their skin as they fall asleep during story time. I'll chase fireflies, and I'll believe in magic. Because summertime doesn't last long enough.
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