The end of summer is like the end of days for my family. In my house that means meltdowns about having to go to bed earlier, having homework again, and the return of structure to our lives. It’s the start of chilly weather, months of being in hibernation, and endless darkness.
The end of summer is saying farewell to bright sunshine, sidewalk art, walking barefoot in your yard, running through sprinklers, and riding bikes. It means saying goodbye to the things I love most about summer like having s’mores, snow cones, and barbecues with friends. Summertime is like a good friend who brings warmth and relaxation to your life. Although in the end, when the summer months fly, I feel like this warm friend is breaking up with me and leaving me with only memories to keep me going for the next nine months.
Summertime is like a good friend who brings warmth and relaxation to your life. Although in the end, when the summer months fly, I feel like this warm friend is breaking up with me and leaving me with only memories to keep me going for the next nine months.
Alas, things must always come to an end and this summer is no different. I will be sad to let go of our long days and warm nights. I will miss road trips with my family and long weekend getaways. Long afternoons at the park will quietly disappear, as will visits to the zoo and the splash pad. The laughter of kids playing outside will soon fade away and children will begin spending more time indoors, inevitable arguing over which cartoon to watch. 
I will miss the sense of freedom that summer brings. I love that every weekend has something fun for my family to enjoy. Whether it’s a Chukars game, a movie in the park, or a long-awaited event, my family is ready to have fun and spend time together. The longer days and rays of sunshine make my mood lighter and summer, for me, is a time to be more carefree.
I may not miss the mosquitoes, sweat, mowing the yard, or the extremely high temperatures, but I will always fondly look forward to the summer months where sitting on my porch with a good book reigns over sitting on the couch any day.
