6. List 8 things you miss about summer when you were a child.
I had a wonderful 80’s/90’s childhood, but there is something about summertime that does not bring about the fondest memories. Don’t get me wrong, I loved sleeping in and playing with my cousins. We walked to the store together, rode bikes all over the neighborhood and picked blackberries. We had water fights and above all else, we got a complete break from school! What’s not to love!?
However, for whatever reason when I think about summer, my initial memory is of myself feeling unbearably hot. I have a clear memory of watching a slurpee commercial on an extremely hot day and just wanting it. so. bad. Well done 7-11.
I think about how much I wished I could do what I wanted instead of being forced to go outside to play. So instead of 8 things I miss about summer when I was a kid. I will write about 8 reasons summer is better as an adult!:
1. I Can Buy Slurpees
Long live adulthood, I CAN BUY SLURPEES! In fact, often when it’s hot, I’ll throw my kids in the van to buy Slurpees just to make it up to my former child self.
2. I Have Air Conditioning
Did air conditioning even exist in my childhood?
3. I Have All The Fans I Want
Even if I didn’t have air conditioning, I would not limit myself to just one tiny fan on my face at night. My house would be covered in fans.
4. I Don’t Have To Go Outside
I can go outside when I feel like it, not because my Mom is sick of listening to me bicker with my siblings AND I get to tell my kids to go outside because I’m sick of listening to them bicker with their siblings. That’s power!
5. I Can Go Swimming
My neighbors had a beautiful swimming pool in their backyard that we could see from our living room. Do you know what it’s like watching old people swim a just a few laps and then NEVER offer even one quick minute for you to run over and cherry bomb yourself into their pool? Do you know the JOY they would have brought us if just once we could have Marco Polo’d our little hearts out? Forget that noise, I can go swimming in a pool any time I want now. I don’t…but I COULD!
6. I Could Rent A Boat
Everyone has that friend that is has access to a boat on hot weekends. What are they up to? Oh not much, probably take the boat out to the lake. What is that like!? I always wanted to know as a kid and now I can because I’m an adult and we get to have all the fun.
7. We Have An Ice Cream Maker
And a snow cone maker because access to cold treats at all times should not be considered a luxury, but rather a requirement.
8. I Have Bunches of Water Balloons That Fill Up In Less Than 30 Seconds
Gone are the days of ripping tiny balloons on my water hose. Watch out kids!
Summer is SO much better as an adult! Except that we can’t take time off work to do much of that stuff, but still…imagine if we had the access back then that we do right now!
John Holton says
Wish I had that water balloon filler when I was a kid. Filling the ballons the old way was a huge pain in the rear, and we decided it wasn’t worth it.
The bear looks like she’s having fun (I’m assuming it’s a she, because of the cub sitting nearby).
Mama Kat says
The water balloon filler is so awesome! I always gave up on them as a kid too. Way too much work!
Emily says
I think summer was better as a child because we had all this freedom. We also had access to a pool so I was never hot.
Mama Kat says
I would have killed for access to a pool!
May says
I hate heat! Humidity is a close second in things that I hate. Together they are like the pinnacle of hatable things life has to offer!
Is it wrong that I am jealous of that bear? Whoo whee! That is living!
And I am dying to try the multi-water balloon tool. Really curious how it works in real life.
Mama Kat says
The bear is living its best life for sure! lol! We’ve done those water balloons with my kids and they really work well!
Aunt Diane says
We stay at Menehuene Shores when we are in Maui. Was fun to see on your video.
Mama Kat says
No way! We totally stayed at the same place! The wind was crazy!
Angie says
You had me at Slurpees! I’ve always lived in Kentucky, where they are called Icees (with a big polar bear). My cousin in North Carolina insisted they were Slush Puppies (picture of a Basset Hound) – LOL!
Mama Kat says
We have Icees at the roller rink and at Target!…but I call those slurpees too. :)
Abby says
I remember drinking from the hose a lot as a kid in summertime. Now all the garden hoses have warnings about not drinking from them. Yep, we’re all messed up from that hose drinkin’
And you make a good argument for how summer is better as an adult. We’re expected to pay for all that now, but still!
Mama Kat says
We drank from the hose too and it was the best!
christy says
I love your post.
I was very blessed as a child. My daddy almost always had some kind of a boat. Or I knew someone that did. Lakes are plentiful in East Tennessee. Several relatives had pools, so I did t lack there either. Slurpees we’re a very rare treat, today is rarer have ice cream or a milkshake.
No joke on the water balloons! I love the fillers!
Jessica says
Tips For A Stress-Free Summer For Parents.
https://www.parentcircle.com/article/tips-for-a-stress-free-summer-for-parents/
Diego Lopes says
It’s ABSOLUTELY better as an adult, I must agree! Even though summer is still far from my favorite season – winter forever.