AWAITING SUMMER

With less than two weeks left of school, my son is eagerly awaiting summer. The time at the end of next week when he will no longer have to awaken before 7,00 to drag his tired body to school to sit through hours of learning things he will soon forget. A time when he will be able to put all of the challenges of the past year of seventh grade behind him, including dealing with bullies and having to sit through lunch detentions. A time when he will meet up with the new friends he made during the past ten months.

For parents, the summertime has a different meaning. Figuring out how to make sure your children are entertained in a way that does not involve staring at a screen for endless hours. Figuring out a way to get your children to go outdoors, to read, and to learn new things on their own. It also means not having to fight the battle of making sure they are up on time as they continue to sleep as long as their bodies require.

Officially, summer starts in about a month’s time. But for my son and other students now in school, they are counting down the days, awaiting summer and looking forward to a time when they can soon forget about school. If only for a little while until the process starts up again in August.