Health & Fitness
It's Summer's Last Dance for This Brentwood Family
School starts in a few weeks and this mom is not quite ready to let summer come to an end.
It's two weeks until J9 and C7 start school, and H9 soon thereafter. After receiving the coveted news of which teacher they will have this coming school year, I can sense their brain shift: the excitement that school's almost here!
The overheard chatter this week between my little guys and their friends has shifted too, with talk of: Reuniting with friends. Fun, kid games at recess. Being in the "big kid" hallway. New backpacks. Retelling tales from last school year.
I've not shifted yet, though. The thought of another school year starting makes me a bit sad and longing for more summer and more of them.
Find out what's happening in Maplewood-Brentwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Our school year always seems like a whirlwind of coordinated and rigid movement from homework, sports, dance, PSR and garden club. Don't get me wrong, it's not that we don't enjoy the rhythm of activity, but it's not summer. Summer is an unpredictable and light dance with its moves chosen by answering, "What will we do today?"
Our days start off slow and lingering. Our nights are late and low-key. There's really nothing on the calendar. No reocurring event that can't be missed. Friends and cousins come to play. Books are read on the front porch. Forts, card games and video games galore. Late night visits to the ice cream shop are too often. The pool calls our name regularly. New rides are explored at Six Flags. New skills and songs are learned at camp.
Find out what's happening in Maplewood-Brentwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
But there's another reason that I'm just not quite ready for the school year to begin. The start of each school year is another piece of them that I have to let go. It's a reminder that my "little" guys are older, wiser and more independent. That their purpose here is not for me - my enjoyment, amusement, and happiness. My "little" guys will eventually be doing their own individual dance that I won't be choreographing while sipping a hot cup of coffee.
Oh, I will eventually have the brain shift too and will get more excited and proud as the time does get closer to the first day of school. I will gladly put my school year dance shoes on, but just for a few more days, I'm going to hold on a little tighter to them and to this summer's last dance.