One of the most common pieces of advice for new parents is to cherish each moment, because the days may seem long, but the years are short.
Whether you’re a first-time parent, an empty nester, or somewhere in between, you can likely attest to the fact that the years do indeed fly by with no option to pause or rewind time as your child enters into each new phase of their life.
Then in the blink of an eye, 18 years pass you by. You might cheer or cry — or both — at the thought of your baby finally becoming an adult. The reality for many families at this stage is that their children head to college or move out on their own or in general step into a new level of independence that doesn’t always involve mom and dad.
You only have 18 summers.
If you have kids who haven’t yet entered adulthood, there’s a phrase that comes to mind: You only have 18 summers with your kids.
Obviously, this isn’t saying you’ll never see your kiddos in the summertime again, but once they turn 18, you don’t know where life will take them, and you can’t bank on having ample time to hang out. They may want to backpack through Europe, road-trip across the country with friends, or accept an internship 10 hours away.
That’s why you want to soak up those first 18 summers together.
But it’s important to take it even further. Summer has officially come to an end as we pass Labor Day weekend and head back to school, but you can take the same summer energy we hold so dear to us and use it as a yearlong model of cherishing the time you have with your kids before they become adults.
Note: If you’re rolling your eyes at this concept because it makes you feel pressured to be the perfect parent with over-the-top events and experiences all the time, you can stop now.
This is meant to do nothing more than to serve as a reminder that the days are long and the years are short, so be present as much as possible and savor the moments you have now, because when they’re grown, you’ll wish you could go back in time, if only for a little while.
Here are some ideas to keep in mind year-round:
Put Your Phone Down
I get it. There’s a lot going on in the world. There are so many people to catch up with and social media profiles to scroll. The news draws you in, your books have you glued to the screen — but remember the person who's right beside you.
When you’re focused so much on what’s going on with the people, places, and things outside your home, it’s hard to give your kids the attention they need for you to have memorable quality time together.
This is not to say you have to be a tech-free family, but the conversations and experiences can be taken to the next level when phones and other tech aren’t a constant distraction taking you away from the here and now.
Spend Time One-on-One
If you have multiple children or a spouse, you’re often spending time as a family. But there’s something special about having one-on-one time with your children — no siblings, no other parents, no friends or cousins. Just you and your little (or big) one. The one-on-one time can allow you to connect in a way that’s more challenging to do when others are around, and that alone is worth its weight in gold.
Remember That Ordinary Can Be Extraordinary
Creating memories with your kids doesn’t require you to plan a lavish vacation or spend tons of money. Always remember that what might feel ordinary to you can be extraordinary in terms of making memories with your kids.
Some of my best childhood memories were simple things — my dad putting me on his shoulder as we walked around downtown, having family movie nights and eating dinner together, putting glue on our hands and letting them dry in front of the fan before peeling it off. Simple, yet memorable.
Those memories will never go away, so don’t shy away from ordinary activities that will last a lifetime.
Take Part in New Experiences
Try something new together — it can be simple, like hiking at a nearby park, going to a new restaurant, or trying out a new art project that’s always been of interest to your child. It doesn’t matter, as long as you’re doing it together. At the end of the day, you’ll be taking part in a new experience together that you’re sure to remember.
