Scents of fresh coffee wafted slowly through the house.  The sound of bacon sizzling cut through the monotony of the night sounds.  Whirling fans tried with no avail to eliminate the heat of the summer morning.  Each scent and sound playing its own part in the beginning of a new day.

Lazy summer mornings.  The days of doing nothing with the exception of working on your tan were the greatest.  These were the days a kid could be a kid.  We could ride our bikes all over the community without worrying.  The woods held endless treasures as we would walk from one home to the other.  We were free to roam the entire community… if we wanted to.

With three kids at home I am constantly reminded of the differences in their childhood and mine.  We live in different times.  I would never let my kids roam the woods alone.  Riding bikes down the road is not even mentioned at our house.  I rarely let them outside to play in the backyard alone.  It’s scary…. for me.

This year will be different!  I have made a vow to allow my kids outside…. alone (that made my hands shake a little) for a few hours every day.  The only exception will be those dark dreary days when the grass is soaked and the mud is so thick it gulps down your flip flops. 

We all sat down last night and talked about what we expected of them.  It’s not much.  They are past the age of learning to do chores.  It is time they stepped up and helped keep things clean.  I don’t really consider these things chores.  You know… put things back where you get them.  Plain and simple. 

That’s not really where I was going with this post, but… you know.  I am sticking to my vow for my kids sakes.  Oh and before y’all get worried… this vow is ONLY for my “big kids”.  Zack has to be supervised by a parent! 

All that said…. bring on the warm sunny days with extra hours of daylight.  Bring on the tanned little faces that soak up the sun.  Bring on the days of sipping kool-aid from the front porch.  Bring on the days of SUMMER!