Relive Childhood Summers

Cape Cod

Childhood summers. No responsibility. Sleeping in. Playing in the sun and water. Looking for trouble with your friends. Experiencing first crushes. Sleepovers. Camping. Family vacations. Barbecues. Fresh watermelon....

When we were kids, we ran outdoors all daylight hours. Today, you may not know kids are on summer vacation as they are held inside locked doors and attached to video gaming units, but for those of us who were kids from the 80s and earlier (pre-computer era), we recall all the components that had us daydreaming from May first onward as the calendar clicked toward the last day of school and freedom.

It's interesting to think how each summer launched a new school year and new responsibilities. We don't get many landmarks like that as an adult except having a child and seeing your child graduate, marry, give you grandkids....

Summer vacation was that time when a kid hoped to go back to school again a little more mature. Maybe she would be wearing a training bra or maybe he would be taller. The new sweaters and fresh notebooks of fall brought promise of a new level of achievement toward adulthood.

We may have a lot of stress and responsibilities today, but there are so many components of summers of our childhood we can incorporate today for nostalgia and relaxing.

Let's list some -

Catch fireflies

Set up a tent in the yard and sleep outside

Sleep in

Call in and take the day off

Go to the public pool

Head to the beach or lake

Listen for the ice cream man and rush!

Host a slumber party

Snack pack puddings

Do a movie marathon of childhood faves

Play the music of the era