Being a father of two young daughters, every day during the summer is a blessing because it takes you away from the daily musings of the office as well as the typical stuff us dads tend to worry about — beer, food, football, etc. Kidding…we really think having a good home life for our family; ensuring that the finances are in order (current and future); spending time with other family and friends; and, enjoying every minute of life.
The summer is tee’d up for parents, i.e. an open invitation to do whatever you want with the kids — day trips, vacations, pool time, beach fun, backyard grilling sessions, bike riding, etc. It’s the time of the year that you really get to enjoy your family because it’s an active time.
However, the fear that you has as a kid — the fear of summer ending and going back to school — is the same fear you have as a parent. You just don’t want the summer to end because it means that the mundane-life routine kicks back into high gear — school drop off and pick up, after school activities, homework, etc.
I’m typically a fan of the cold winter weather, but love the summer because I get to spend so much more time with the family. That’s why the end of summer sucks.
I realize that my little kids aren’t going to be little kids forever. They will eventually become teenagers, who want their own cell phones, a car, alone time, want to date (gulp), etc. That all scares me to death. So for me, the end of summer is one big reminder that life keeps rolling on whether you like it or not. No matter how many trips to the beach you take; no matter how many BBQ’s you have at your house or go to, the summer is going to end and it’s going to suck.
In the end, all we’re left with are the memories, which these days come in the form of photo galleries on Facebook and videos on YouTube.
Photo Credit: Old Revere Beach, Revere, MA
Don Martelli is just a dad, moonlighting as a PR exec, photographer and civilian journalist. He’s the executive editor for Technorati, a co-founder of Every Other Thursday and is a contributing writer for Shamable and the PR Finish Line. Connect with him at www.donmartelli.com or @bigguyd via Twitter.
Article first published as The End of Summer Sucks on Technorati.
Don- thanks for putting my feelings into words! I've been a little down lately, and this is why. So bummed to see it all slipping away, but like you said- at least the technology makes it easy to record the memories.
Thanks Chad. I'm just not ready to give it up yet…this week is odd because it's going to be 90+ in Boston, but the kids are back in school. #weird
I'm on the other end of the spectrum. My 16 year old son has a part time gig doing research, so once or twice a week I drop him off at the local college library. Last week was the first time I did this since the kids are back at school. The campus was buzzing with activity and as he walked away from the car it hit me that he didn't stand out at all. He looked just like the college kids.
Gulp.
That's also a scary thought. 16…geez…seems light years away, but it'll be tomorrow, as you know.