Yes - "Rather, it’s to highlight anti-summer-ism as a symptom of our collective forgetting that family has long been accepted as the central part of life. When you dislodge family from the equation, many rewarding experiences disappear as well."
Just discovered your Substack and I just want to like every post. You are speaking to things I have thought for so long, which have only become amplified tenfold since having my first child. It pains me how we seem to have collectively forgotten the value of kids. Your writing is a life raft for me right now. Thanks!!
So many wonderful things- homemade ice cream, broke my nose falling out of a tree, hide&seek, bikes were our freedom, playing in the sprinklers, sno-cones, popsicles.
When I was a kid I had perpetually skinned knees from colliding with sprinklers all summer haha. Hurt at the time, but I have so much nostalgia now for those days.
I'm also reminded of social media posts I've seen in past years about young adults who go to the club on thanskgiving and christmas. Sometimes people are joking, and to each their own, but also idk that just doesn't seem like what I'd personally want to be doing on those days lol.
You make some really great points in this post, but I'd just like to say, as a former teacher, that I don't know anyone who goes into teaching "just so they can continue to have their summers off." That's a nice perk of the job, but if that's the sole reason, or main reason, or even one of the main reasons for being a teacher, you won't last long in that profession.
yeah, that's fair. I do know people who have left teaching (several close family members) not necessarily just because of that, but probably because the perks generally weren't necessarily what they anticipated them amounting to.
Sooooo much gold Here 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Children used to BE the CENTRE PIECE of Life — Now they are at the margINs. Children are the LifeBlood of The Future. INVESTING IN CHILDREN IS INVESTING IN THE CONTINUITY OF CREATION.
I was lucky enough as a kid to spend my summers running around outside. As an adult, there’s not much excuse to do the same … unless you are chasing after your kids. Summer is my favorite season.
I am sure that I loved summers as a kid, but then I went through a phase where summer was my least favorite season. The older I get however the more I really love summer. I know it is partially because of my kids. It is fun and wonderful to see it though their eyes. Another part for me has been being more consciously in tune with the natural seasons. I find the more I live seasonally the more I enjoy each season and don't feel a rush to get to the next onen if that makes sense.
Such a great point about living seasonally. I grew up in a place without seasons, and living in a place now with four distinct seasons is an absolute pleasure. Love seeing fall colors, spring flowers etc.
I’ve thought the same point you’ve made about Christmas - it’s giving joy and wonder and experiences and tradition with children especially that makes Christmas so magical!
Yes - "Rather, it’s to highlight anti-summer-ism as a symptom of our collective forgetting that family has long been accepted as the central part of life. When you dislodge family from the equation, many rewarding experiences disappear as well."
Thanks so much!
Just discovered your Substack and I just want to like every post. You are speaking to things I have thought for so long, which have only become amplified tenfold since having my first child. It pains me how we seem to have collectively forgotten the value of kids. Your writing is a life raft for me right now. Thanks!!
Thank you so, so much! That is so kind of you to say, an genuinely made my day!
LOVE!!!!!
So many wonderful things- homemade ice cream, broke my nose falling out of a tree, hide&seek, bikes were our freedom, playing in the sprinklers, sno-cones, popsicles.
When I was a kid I had perpetually skinned knees from colliding with sprinklers all summer haha. Hurt at the time, but I have so much nostalgia now for those days.
Great piece Jim!
Thank you so much!
I always forget that Christmas just became another event to drink around, until I had kids.
I'm also reminded of social media posts I've seen in past years about young adults who go to the club on thanskgiving and christmas. Sometimes people are joking, and to each their own, but also idk that just doesn't seem like what I'd personally want to be doing on those days lol.
You make some really great points in this post, but I'd just like to say, as a former teacher, that I don't know anyone who goes into teaching "just so they can continue to have their summers off." That's a nice perk of the job, but if that's the sole reason, or main reason, or even one of the main reasons for being a teacher, you won't last long in that profession.
yeah, that's fair. I do know people who have left teaching (several close family members) not necessarily just because of that, but probably because the perks generally weren't necessarily what they anticipated them amounting to.
Sooooo much gold Here 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Children used to BE the CENTRE PIECE of Life — Now they are at the margINs. Children are the LifeBlood of The Future. INVESTING IN CHILDREN IS INVESTING IN THE CONTINUITY OF CREATION.
Thanks!!
I was lucky enough as a kid to spend my summers running around outside. As an adult, there’s not much excuse to do the same … unless you are chasing after your kids. Summer is my favorite season.
Same. Loved running around, and summer is my fav too.
I am sure that I loved summers as a kid, but then I went through a phase where summer was my least favorite season. The older I get however the more I really love summer. I know it is partially because of my kids. It is fun and wonderful to see it though their eyes. Another part for me has been being more consciously in tune with the natural seasons. I find the more I live seasonally the more I enjoy each season and don't feel a rush to get to the next onen if that makes sense.
Such a great point about living seasonally. I grew up in a place without seasons, and living in a place now with four distinct seasons is an absolute pleasure. Love seeing fall colors, spring flowers etc.
I’ve thought the same point you’ve made about Christmas - it’s giving joy and wonder and experiences and tradition with children especially that makes Christmas so magical!
Thanks so much!