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One Of The Funnest Benefits Of Being A Parent

One of my fondest memories of my childhood was packing up my dad’s station wagon almost Tetris-style to ensure we brought all of our essentials, rolling down the windows, and blaring “You Can Call Me Al” as we made our way along country roads to a sequestered sleepy summer town for our yearly vacation. The bay that hosted our stay was lined with Birch trees and highlighted by coloured cottages. The car no sooner was put in Park than we were swallowed by the pool. Who could cannonball the most water out of the pool, who could dive with the greatest finesse, and many other improvised water theatrics consumed the better part of our vacation. Sometime during my pubescence my unabashed approach to the pool changed and changed for good. Preserving my hair so I didn’t have to do it again took precedence over pool games. While I continued to enjoy our summer experience, it was no longer the all-consuming fun it once was. Self-preservation and composure took precedence above all else.

The amazing and obvious thing about parenthood is that it changes anyone brave and/ or clueless enough to have a child. It certainly has made me more uptight in certain ways.

Quote About Parenthood | Parenting from the Heart

Having one’s heart exist outside of their body certainly lends itself to increased concern, caution, worries, and diligence in certain matters. The counterbalance and one of the funnest parts of having kids is, of course, becoming a kid again. Their gleeful, full-bodied laughter becomes both incentive and reinforcement to just live freely and seize the moment.

This summer, each day has been a blank slate of opportunity. Touring our new city, making friends at the park, feeding ducks, or scavenging the trails around our home have been go-tos. An especial highlight for me has been the days we have been out without swimsuits and the lure of water features, spray parks, or splashpads have been too enticing to forgo. My usual spot on the sidelines watching their natural play unfold has not sufficed. And so, I have been one of the big kids teasing the timed sprays, chasing my kids, or counting to three holding both kids’ hands and running in full throttle. In the pool, on our family vacation, the teasing of “Mama get me” has trumped my desire for maintained hair. Being a pool shark that attacks toddlers is too fun to care about convenience once I’m out of the pool. And so, I’ve found myself submerged this summer. Not only am I typically the most soaking wet, ill-dressed adult-sized kid at the park, but I also feel immersed in the most audaciously enjoyable parts of summer.

What are some of your highlights from summer so far? Please share <3

 

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22 comments
  1. I love joining the kids in the splash pads! Those things are so fun!! I don’t remember them from when I was a kid. I do remember swimming from the start to the end of our vacation. But like you, it changed as I got older. My husband doesn’t believe me or my parents when we say I was a fish anytime we were by water. Now, with the kids, I’m returning to my obsession with swimming.

  2. This is so true! It wasn’t until I had kids of my own that need for composure and being well kept just slipped away. No I could care less what I look like as long as my kids are laughing 🙂

  3. Oh, I love all the fun that comes with being a parent. Umm, I get to play with all these great toys again? haha I think that’s why I liked being a teacher so much. It was just so much fun. Although, I would like my son’s endless energy so I could keep up with him.

    1. I don’t blame you for becoming a teacher for that reason alone! I get so excited to go to the toy store or the children’s section of a book store. It’s seriously my favourite!

  4. We’ve stayed the weekend in Gimli, Manitoba for my brothers wedding, quite a few splash pad/water park visits and we’ll be following those up with a visit to the Assiniboine Zoo to see the new Polar Bear exhibit for the first time at the end of September for my youngest sons birthday.

    1. I haven’t been to Manitoba yet. The only thing I know about Gimli is the story of the Gimli Glider which is such a cool one. I’ll need to discover Winnipeg at some point in my life. Sounds like you’ve had a wonderful summer ❤️

  5. That is so funny about the hair! I seriously think sometimes, oh I just did my hair but then I think that’s a silly reason to prevent myself from having water fun with the kids. Since all we do in the summer is pretty much go swimming or to the beach, it’s almost impossible not to get your hair wet.

  6. I feel with working full time I’ve missed out on a lot of the fun that Hazel and I had last summer. We’ve made the most of our Sundays trying to squeeze in family activities and took full advantage of our week in the Okanagan. It was fun to just plop down in the sand and build sandcastles that we squished instantly and to watch her fearlessly walk right into the lake and splash about like crazy. I think Ev and I were some of the only parents that actually spent some quality time with her and didn’t just lounge in our chairs consuming beverages all week.

  7. I love to get outside in the garden and get dirty. We have grown a lot of food and flowers this year. Watching the kids amazement when we would see something new growing was so special.

  8. My boys and I have been “racing” a lot lately. 🙂 Most of the time I let them win, but sometimes I just have to show them that momma can actually beat them.
    My other favorite summer activity has been the camping trips we have taken. I LOVE it!!

  9. What a beautiful post. I was lucky enough to be able to stay home with my daughter for the first 3 years. Experiencing the world through a toddler’s eyes is a life changing experience.

  10. I love this post! it really is the best seeing the world through toddler eyes. This past week my toddler, who has recently been obsessed with high fives, was riding in the car and saw the don’t walk sign. He immediately said “Look mom, high five!” It’s so fun seeing the connections they make!

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