I am sitting here remembering the summers of my teen years, as my kids enter theirs. Their lives are so different from mine and yet, exactly the same.
They most definitely work harder at school. They test infinitely better than I ever did (notable exception, English). They know what they want to be when they grow up (really?!). They take a far more rigorous course load than I ever contemplated. Granted, 90% of their classes didn't exist in the late '70's - at least, I never knew about them.
They both work. They both play sports. They both have terrific friends. Peter's best friends are all from day care and elementary school with a few amazing exceptions from sports. Bella has eight zillion groups of people she hangs out with; she is able to slip in and out of each group with nary a care in the world. I admire that. My sister Jane says it's the Gemini in her.
They navigate life with what looks like ease, although I know they both have their moments. They are charismatic and self assured and know who they are.
I have been VERY blessed to have been around for the majority of their formative years. They need me less as an ATM and taxi these days, but I can feel and see that they still need me as a mom, and I love that.
As they start their summer there won't be much sleeping until mid-afternoon.
Peter needs to be at work by 7:45, and that starts on Monday. He is attending a Leadership Camp at Mercy College in July, living on campus for the week. He is playing in quite a few baseball tournaments which are seguing into college visits and important bonding time with his dad, as they drive to Binghamton and Saratoga, with stops at colleges in the area. Today, they are doing a downstate loop to Iona, St. John's and Manhattan. I don't know where Peter will end up, but I am certain he will transition fairly easily. He has grace and charm in spades. He looks at adults in the eye when he speaks to them. He has a firm handshake.
Bella is headed to JFK airport at 3:30 Monday morning as she heads to Hawaii for ten days. It is a trip she worked all last summer to help pay for. She is traveling halfway around the world without her parents! I am so excited for her I could skip. I am looking forward to hearing about her great adventure and I fully expect her to come home changed. More mature. Able to navigate life with eyes ever filled with wonder. She will babysit and life guard (provided she gets with the program on that...) when she returns. She will study to get her permit. She will sing and have friends over and wish, as she always does, that she had a mother who loves to shop so we could go mall hopping.
As for me, well, hopefully I am going to stop scheduling doctor appointments on Monday's and Tuesday's and head to the beach. My love of Long Island is always solidified by a trip to Jones Beach or Massapequa. I will play catch up with my friends who live there. I will not set an alarm on those days. And I might just take Bella to the mall...
Here's to the Summer of 2013. What's happening with you and yours? Do share!
They most definitely work harder at school. They test infinitely better than I ever did (notable exception, English). They know what they want to be when they grow up (really?!). They take a far more rigorous course load than I ever contemplated. Granted, 90% of their classes didn't exist in the late '70's - at least, I never knew about them.
They both work. They both play sports. They both have terrific friends. Peter's best friends are all from day care and elementary school with a few amazing exceptions from sports. Bella has eight zillion groups of people she hangs out with; she is able to slip in and out of each group with nary a care in the world. I admire that. My sister Jane says it's the Gemini in her.
They navigate life with what looks like ease, although I know they both have their moments. They are charismatic and self assured and know who they are.
I have been VERY blessed to have been around for the majority of their formative years. They need me less as an ATM and taxi these days, but I can feel and see that they still need me as a mom, and I love that.
As they start their summer there won't be much sleeping until mid-afternoon.
Peter needs to be at work by 7:45, and that starts on Monday. He is attending a Leadership Camp at Mercy College in July, living on campus for the week. He is playing in quite a few baseball tournaments which are seguing into college visits and important bonding time with his dad, as they drive to Binghamton and Saratoga, with stops at colleges in the area. Today, they are doing a downstate loop to Iona, St. John's and Manhattan. I don't know where Peter will end up, but I am certain he will transition fairly easily. He has grace and charm in spades. He looks at adults in the eye when he speaks to them. He has a firm handshake.
Bella is headed to JFK airport at 3:30 Monday morning as she heads to Hawaii for ten days. It is a trip she worked all last summer to help pay for. She is traveling halfway around the world without her parents! I am so excited for her I could skip. I am looking forward to hearing about her great adventure and I fully expect her to come home changed. More mature. Able to navigate life with eyes ever filled with wonder. She will babysit and life guard (provided she gets with the program on that...) when she returns. She will study to get her permit. She will sing and have friends over and wish, as she always does, that she had a mother who loves to shop so we could go mall hopping.
As for me, well, hopefully I am going to stop scheduling doctor appointments on Monday's and Tuesday's and head to the beach. My love of Long Island is always solidified by a trip to Jones Beach or Massapequa. I will play catch up with my friends who live there. I will not set an alarm on those days. And I might just take Bella to the mall...
Here's to the Summer of 2013. What's happening with you and yours? Do share!
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