Thanks to the Two Writing Teachers Forum for encouraging me to focus on
the small moments of life.
Summer vacation, from school, is an agrarian society phenomena with roots in the days when children were essential for harvesting on family farms. In spite of a few attempts at "year round schools " eight week-ish summer vacations have endured. For many, it is a long hot, boring summer of video games and time spent inside; for others it's bus rides to camps. For the lucky ones, it is a chance to meet new people and explore new worlds. While I maintain a position that rethinking our school calendars would be a good idea, my own very lucky grandchildren are thriving in ways I could never have imagined as they explore new-to-them venues.
Love, feed goats, chickens,
Nurture, growing plants,
Plant beans, flowers
Plant beans, flowers
Harvest the ripe ones
Man the farm market.
Craft magnificent stories,
Create intricate lanyards,
Swim that lake,
Learn pickle ball, golf,
Try a sleepover,
Catch a book
THEY are lucky ones.
3 comments:
Summer vacation is certainly different than when I was in school. We lived in small town Wisconsin at the time and the kids in my neighborhood basically ran wild for the summer. We had swim lessons and girl scout camp, but mostly I remember playing outside from after breakfast to bedtime.
Anita,
I wish all children had summer camp experience. I went to church camp and girl scout camp as a kid. I don’t remember much about those experiences but am sure they helped me develop independence.
Summer does offer so many opportunities for new friendships and experiences. Your grandchildren are so lucky. arjeha
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