The Summer That Was

There is a sigh of relief filling my lungs today. Not so much because summer is over and school starts tomorrow but more so, that we made it. Or maybe that I made it through my first summer with two kids. It wasn’t easy and there were some missteps along the way. Not signing Jack up for camps or classes was a blessing and at times a curse, and something I will definitely reevaluate next year.

But for the most part it was a good summer.

It was a summer of Zootopia, the Muppets and Phineas and Ferb on an endless loop. It was the summer of nap time swim sessions, that were sometimes interrupted by a baby waking up. It was late afternoon family swims and lots and lots of “cannonball”.

It was fewer beach days with Mom and more beach days with Mom-Mom and Pop. It was overnight in Sea Isle, trips to Lou Dogs and Marita’s. It was Jack packing his suitcase and heading off for a few nights, and coming home and saying, “I didn’t miss you much at all”. It was lots of sand and sun and playing with Uncle Mark.

It was a summer of “Dad is working late tonight” and “no Dad is not off today”. It was me playing second string to John all the time. It was lots of “boys rule, girls drool” until Mommy put a stop to it.

It was a summer that started with a lot of play dates and then kind of puttered out. It was a summer where at times it felt like he was the only kid not in camp and we were the only family not on vacation. A summer where I had good intentions of doing workbooks and practicing reading and limiting screen time but only really did well with the last one.

It was the summer that he really knew how to swim. A summer without swimmies or life jackets or swim lessons. All things that made me proud and nervous all at once, but mostly proud.

It was a summer of firsts. Jack’s first summer as a big brother, Graces first summer, her first time in the pool, her first time at the beach and her first laugh. It was my first summer of having two children, of not having a traditional job and of not having any time to myself. It was John’s first summer owning his own business. It was a summer of weddings, baby showers and christenings.

It was a summer of seeing old friends, of paddle boarding, traveling to New York, and wine tasting. It was a summer spent in leggings and complaining about my lack of wardrobe. It was a summer of lots and lots of Rose and craft beers and not nearly enough margaritas. It was a summer of watching Bachelor in Paradise, Bloodline and Parenthood.

It was a summer of adjustments. It was a summer that found us home more often. It was a summer of last-minute plans and some failed outings. It was a summer that started with a fussy infant and ended with a smiling baby. It was a summer where my only child had to learn how to be a big brother and that it’s not always about him. It was a summer that I felt like a juggler some days I kept everything in motion and other days I dropped the ball. It was a summer where my hands were full and so was my heart. It was a summer where our family felt complete and comfortable and chaotic. It was a summer of laughter, smiles, and family.