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	growing child the childhood years

Summer Vacation
By Kristen Berry
Web Exclusive - June 4, 2007

I have decided against going out of town for a summer vacation this year. My decision was fueled by the realization that I've come to miss the simpler times—when my son was young enough to consider a walk up the road a major exploration mission. These days, it seems he is usually on loan to friends or one of the clubs he belongs to at school, so I felt justified in my decision to hunker down and simply be here with him for a while.

On that first day of our summer break, we went out to lunch, just the two of us. I felt as if I was seeing him for the first time in a few years. It was a beautiful day and we ate outside. Though I knew it was only lunch, I wanted it to last all day. I think I was a little afraid that our time together might not be exciting enough for him any more. At the same time, I was ashamed at my own insecurity.

Then it hit me: I'd been going so fast through his days of school, tests, clubs and friends that the few minutes we usually have together during the week are carved out of the thin slice between dinner and bedtime. I watched him eating his sandwich. I could see he was as content as he'd been eating crackers on a picnic blanket when he was four. By the time we finished our lunch he had dripped all over his shirt and had some crumbs on his face. I was grateful that 12 years hadn't turned him into a man just yet. I wiped his mouth as much as I could get away with and asked, "What should we do next?" To my surprise, he said, "Let's just take a walk." We were in a historic district near our community with tree-lined streets and shops within strolling distance of where we had eaten lunch. The simplicity and beauty of the old houses on the street we walked were a great setting in which we ambled along, taking in the presentation of the season—from the tiniest flower to the tallest trees exploding in a show of green leaves. Suddenly my son spotted a garbage can topped with a basket being thrown away. He walked faster toward the collection of trash and when we got close enough to examine the basket, I knew we had stumbled on something special. In the spirit of adventure (not to mention embarrassment), I allowed my son to go garbage picking. I must admit it was worth every minute to see the excitement on his face as he lifted the basket out of the trashcan. It was a sturdy old thing with thick wooden handles and I was surprised anyone would throw it away. Underneath the basket laid another surprise; a bright copper planter worthy of proud display on any front porch. We walked down the street with our treasures. When we got to the car we loaded our finds into the trunk. Excitedly, I asked my son, "What next?" He said, "I don't know yet, but let's have some water in the car while we think about it." We sat in the car drinking our water and I awaited his decision. With no particular destination in mind, we had no reason to hurry and so I kicked back in the driver's seat and we relaxed in the parking lot with the car doors open enjoying each other's company. We sat there for about 20 minutes talking and watching little "helicopters" spin down from the trees and settle on the hood of the car. I think this summer break will go down as the most stress-free and favorite of them all.

Kristen Berry is a freelance writer and local parenting columnist in Atlanta. Many of her stories are spawned from the simple pleasures of parenting.

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