The Simple Days of Youth

Take yourself back to when you were in grade school. I can even smell it. Feel it. Summers were probably spent very carefree. Running to-and-from friends homes. For me, it was mainly spent running around with my BFF Betty. We spent most of our days (and by most, I mean all) at the pool and each others houses. My family was hers and hers, mine. There was a pool called "Seablue" within walking distance of our houses in Wichita Falls and it was our home base in the summer.

It wasn't a community or neighborhood pool in the sense they have them these days, where you have an HOA and it's actually taken care of by the neighborhood association. No...this was a place that had four pools. Only one of which we actually swam in. You had to be a member (my number was 333 and her's was 3...cool, huh?!). Can't believe I still remember that.

There was a baby pool, a training pool, a family pool and OUR pool...the teen pool. It was an Olympic size pool with a true deep end. High and low diving boards and a slide (which rarely got used). The high school boys would 'rock' the pool and we would enjoy every second of the waves crashing all around us. We'd be bobbing up and down trying to keep our balance. For those unfamiliar with pool 'rocking' it's when they basically do various types of cannonballs one after another off the diving boards in the deep end (pike, parachute, can-opener, etc...) to where the pool actually gets white caps in it. An Olympic size pool with white caps. It took some effort.

There were 10 minute rest periods each hour and this is when we would go watch the volleyball game going on, get a 'suicide' drink (all flavors mixed) and maybe some Andy Capp Hot Fries. Sunscreen was unheard of then (unfortunately) and we were all about having fun. Not so much laying out working on our tans. No, Betty and I were in the middle of it all.

I can recall soooooo many great times from our days at Seablue. And just our summers in general. So incredibly simple. Not a care in the world. Barely spent any money at all (except on snacks at Seablue) and had more fun than two kids could imagine. Our parents let us have some freedom and we didn't take advantage of it. They were also there when we needed to be the kids we were.

How do you get that  for your kids these days? Does it have to do with the town you live in? Or the neighborhood you choose? I know it has to do with the people you associate with, but that kind of goes hand-in-hand with the town and neighborhood. These are things that keep me up at night. Trying to make our lives more simple. Giving them a foundation for a great future with their families to come. It takes effort sometimes (being an adult and parent!) but it's a role I cherish and I'm desperate for them to have a kid's life they deserve...as carefree as possible.

Maybe I've watched Doc Hollywood and Steel Magnolias too many times, but it's what I want for them.

I don't want to always feel on-schedule. I want my kids to be more free than that too. But I also believe time has played a role in so many people frequently using the term "kids are resilient". Yes, they are about certain things. And need to be. But to simply expect them to be...well, it's something I haven't bought into. "Let's just throw circumstances and tons of schedules their way and trust that since they are so young, they have plenty of time to bounce back." Hello??? This is their childhood. We live a long life and our childhood is such a short part of it that I feel as a parent, it's my responsibility to make this time in their lives as enjoyable as possible. Like my parents did for me. And these days, I see kids growing up way too fast. Cell phones in grade school...Facebook pages...really?! In the not-so-distant future they will be 'adults' and have all those adult responsibilities. Some of them awesome, yes. But the days of childhood leave all too soon. I want them to remember theirs with great fondness.

They both have some pretty great friends, even at their young ages. I met Betty when I was in first grade and we are still friends. She is still someone who I can count on. If I tried to reach her, she'd immediately reply. No questions asked. This person God put in my life has never once turned her back on me and I will always have hers. And that is part of the reason we are still close...we both love each other unconditionally and it takes a lot to get one of us mad at the other. It hasn't happened since grade school and I'll blame that on immaturity! I know I've got several friends like that now, but to actually still be friends with my BFF through childhood...I count myself blessed beyond measure.

So here I sit on the first day of the kid's summer searching for simple. The planner in me says, "Once you see what it is that will make it simple, work toward that goal and make it happen". The laid-back person in me who has been fighting her way out, says, "It will happen...just wait" and I'm at odds on which to choose, or is it a little of both? See my dilemma? I think too much. I believe it's some kind of defense mechanism in me. Always wanting to be prepared for the worse case scenario. I once told someone, "Why are you worried about something that may happen? You'll have enough to worry about once it does. IF it does. Why waste time now when it may not even happen?". I should take that advice, huh?

Then I see something Betty posts on Facebook, so in her words...God WORKS when u WAIT. "The vision awaits its appointed time. If it SEEMS slow, WAIT for it! It will SURELY come" Hab 2:3.

I hear ya'...