Fudgsicles. Red, white and blue Bomb Pops. Orange Creamsicles. Nestle Drumsticks. Late afternoon shouts, “Ice cream truck. It’s the ice cream truck.” Children running and waving money.

Riding bikes, roller skating or playing ball in the street with friends; these were the best ways to pass the time. We would play all day but reported home when the streetlights came on. Sometimes we’d play a game of hide-n-seek under the cover of night with the neighborhood kids while parents sat on porches and listened to the sounds of stealthy children.

We would make trips to the local pool or play in the sprinklers for the sake of cooling off from the heat. Taking frequent trips to the library to find new adventures to fuel our fun.

The smell of fresh cut grass. Clear blue skies. Golden sunshine streaming through the gaps of the clothes on the clothesline. Laughter in the distance as kids enjoy their freedom.

Veggies from the garden:  summer squash, tomatoes, and zucchini. Eating peaches, plums, and nectarines right off the tree. My Dad often paid me to be a human scarecrow and ward off birds from his precious fruit trees. Chicken and burgers on the grill. Family and friends laughing as we prepare the evening meal together. True community.

Sleeping in till lunch time and watching soap operas all afternoon:  Search for Tomorrow, Days of Our Lives, and Another World. No set bedtime.

Even though I was a little bit of a nerd and enjoyed school, these are the things that summer always promised to deliver for me. Can you see it? Close your eyes and imagine …

Summertime!

Now as a mom of two small boys summer represents some new things …

Ice cream is still involved, just not from an ice cream truck. They are few and far between. When I was young you could set your watch by the arrival of the ice cream truck. Now we’ll stop by one of our favorite ice cream shops.

As the school year comes to a close for my boys, I see that they are in need of a break from the regular routine. They are crabby and annoyed. Counting down the days hasn’t helped. They need a vacation. I am excited for them to have one. I want them to have memories like mine.

The mom in me is excited that I won’t have to remember to pack lunches. There won’t be a need for clean school uniforms and arguments about being in dress code. We can say goodbye to Manic Mornings where tired children meltdown over things like eating breakfast, getting dressed, and brushing their teeth.

Summer can’t get here soon enough. I will fill it as best as I can with:  Fudgsicles, Red, white and blue Bomb Pops, Orange Creamsicles, and Nestle Drumsticks, for my boys.

We will laugh and play in the sunshine. I will put on running shoes or find a bike path. I will stand in the heat and blow bubbles for a game of “Bubble Wars”. I will step outside of my comfort zone and do outdoor things with them. We’ll celebrate the promise of Summer.

Get ready because here it comes …