Fifth and second. Those are the grade levels my kids are in this school year.
Seeing those words written out in black and white serves as a stark reminder for me that the end of a season is coming and I’m not talking about summer.
I’m talking about that magical period of time when your children are semi-independent big kids who can do a lot of the essential day-to-day things for themselves, but they still very much WANT and NEED you around (and they aren’t shy about it).
In this season, so much has been special. I’ve watched them try new things, face their fears, gain independence and confidence. We’ve navigated new friendships, new routines, new concepts and big feelings.
And then there’s the summers of this season.
For the past few years, our Junes and Julys have consisted of sleepovers, splashy cannonballs, underwater tea parties, and tip toes by the measuring stick at the amusement park.
Sandcastles have been built, ridiculously big holes have been dug and late-night laser tag and hide and seek marathons have kept us all moving.
We’ve marveled over amenities in hotels, cabins and out-of-town stays that might have been overlooked by older eyes “Did you see the blow dryer in here?!”
And snow cones, s’mores and slushies became their own, special seasonal food group.
Truthfully, it’s been one big, fantastic, memorable blur. And I know it’s by no means over, yet. I refuse to subscribe to the notion that “we only get 18 summers.” However, I do know that change is on the horizon.
I can see it in the training bras sitting next to the cartoon character jammies in my shopping cart.
I hear it in the mix of angsty heartbreak songs peppered in amongst the sing-a-long soundtrack favorites from their past.
And while of course my oldest is the one ushering things along as she enters her last year of elementary school, my youngest is not immune to the shifts in dynamics we’ll all inevitably feel full force…eventually.
But until then, while these glimmers of change exist as minor blips on our radars, I’ll continue soaking up all the snuggles, keeping all of the secrets and playing all of the silly games with my goobers.
We may be swiftly approaching the sunset of these summers, but I’ll forever have a sun-kissed memory of them on my heart.
