I’ve had two very distinct summer moments this year.  And they both fell on this last weekend of summer.  Hey, I’ll take what I can get.

After Stevie’s successful swim day, I was feeling happy and accomplished.  As I drove home along the palm tree-lined streets of Burbank, I rolled down my windows and felt the warm air rush in through my hair and across my shoulders.  The sun was setting in front of us.  I turned the music up.  Mazzy Star Fade Into You was on the radio.  Stevie sang along, in his own little way.  And everything just felt right.  I felt young.  There was peace in my body.  My worries were gone in that moment.  It felt like summer.

Then after a photo shoot on Saturday, we wrapped things up just as the sun was cooling off and the tide was coming in higher.  I walked to my car and noticed how pretty the sky was over the water.  Even though I was anxious to get home to my husband and son, I took one minute for myself.  I snapped a couple photos and then walked ever so slowly to my car.  I was wearing cut-offs, a tank, and flip-flops.  No need for a sweater. Again, the warm air surrounded me.  I breathed in deep and filled up my soul.  It felt like summer.

These summer feels got me thinking, and even got me excited for things to come.  Sometimes when I get stuck, learning to navigate life with the new daily challenges of a cranky toddler, and running every which way to get Stevie where he needs to be (and briefly feeling oh so very jealous of all the beach goers), I forget that it’s not going to be like this forever. He is going to grow up.  And even though his best summer memories will probably be without his parents, ours will probably be with him.  We are going to get to do fun summer activities again someday – all of us together!  We will stay out a little late.  And roast marshmallows over a campfire. And spend lazy days on a beach.  And ride bikes at dusk.  And while right now, I am thinking about progress reports and therapy and where our afternoon walk will take us, in the summers to come, I will get to be there for all the best stuff.  I will get to show him what a good summer feels like.

I can’t wait.