Welcome It is about that time. As August rolls around, I am already beginning to miss summer. It is no fun to think of the anticipated structure and routine--the hustle and bustle of the school year. At the end of June, I started to hear moms say, “We’re trying to get a few more things in as a family before the kids go back to school.” As moms, we feel the pressure to create lasting memories for our families. Summer is the best time to do that! There are just a few more weeks to get all of that in. Remember it isn’t the extravagant trips to Disneyworld (because when I talk to adults who went as children, they don’t remember the trip at all, except through pictures.), or the long family vacations--it is the day to day one on one time. One thing I remember being able to do is spend the night at my grandparent’s house in the summer and stay the day with them. So simple, yet such a treat! Over and over again, I hear from adults that it is the little things they remember most--being tucked in bed each night or getting to read a book with dad before bed. I see that with my kids, too. The things they enjoy and like to do are the things that do not cost money, but require your time and attention. They love having a picnic lunch (thanks to Mamaw and Gampa), or playing “makeups” and giving pedicures. So, instead of your normal routine of eating lunch at the table, one day this week, throw a blanket in the yard and enjoy a couple more weeks of summer! Too bad the end of summer doesn’t mean the end of the treacherous heat! Stay cool!
Stephanie oliver president & editor
4 / The Journey - August 2009