We just got back last night from our annual trek to the beach. We usually head to the South Carolina coast with grandparents - rotating each year between my and my husband's families. This year we decided to go just the five of us!
We stayed on Topsail Island, North Carolina. What a great time - sunny skies, warm ocean and lots of sand to maneuver. The girls just adore the ocean. The day is spent in perpetual motion - shell gathering, sand flea digging, fish catching, boogie boarding, snacking, running, running, running!
Our five year old was brave enough to try boogie boarding with her dad and older sis. She took to it right away and couldn't put the board down! Our oldest was in a constant "squat" with her head down inspecting sea life...no need for sunscreen on her face. :) And our youngest was the avid shell collector and sand mover. She might be headed for a career in building excavation or archeology!
Our first family trip was just what we needed. Nothing but time together...no beat from the drums of our work, school/activity schedules, cell phones, email, or even tv. Just us!! We're always on a budget (aren't we all?) and it was nice to find a place right on the beach, let the girls pick the daily dinner menu, and settle in for four days with no reason to get back in the car.
It's easy to get caught up in the scheduling opportunities that our kids have all summer long. Swimming lessons, soccer camp, vacation bible school, etc. The trip was a reminder to keep the summer simple...yes, there are fun and wonderfully educational programs out there for our kids, but let's make sure we leave plenty of time for our families to just spend the day together. There's something about letting our kids learn how to manage a summer day. It's certainly a realistic life lesson.
Some of my fondest childhood memories are built around a long summer with lots to explore and do with my neighbors. It seemed like each day was a clean slate and we would never have asked our moms what to do. That would have been crazy talk!! We would decide together as kids and go for it. You could count on your neighbors to be home, waiting for the sun to come up so we could all get outside and play ALL DAY!!
Here's to a summer filled with fun, adventure...and family time!!
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