By Ellyn T. McKinney
Eighteen summers. That’s all we really get with them, isn’t it? The thought hit me like a sunbeam through a dusty window—bright, warm, and a little bittersweet. I look back on my own children, now grown with lives of their own, and I’m not sure I ever truly grasped the magic and brevity of eighteen childhood summers. In truth, I doubt I even counted them.
Back in the ’80s—and likely long before that—summer in the South wasn’t just a season. It was a way of life. The kids were out of school, routines softened, and the air was filled with the hum of cicadas and the chatter of barefoot children running through sprinklers.
We soaked up golden evenings around the grill or on front porches, as frogs sang from the bayou and waterfowl soared toward their twilight roosts. Evenings stretched long and lazy, cradled in the kind of light that only summer can offer.
But the children? They grew up. They moved on. The backyards quieted, and the patio lights twinkled a little more gently.
Eighteen summers. That’s all we get to make the most of their magic, to truly embrace the joy that childhood summers bring. But oh, what a joyful thing it is to make them count. As a mother of two and a grandmother now to three, here are a few ideas I’ve picked up along the way—small ways to make each summer shimmer just a little brighter.
Let Summer Be Summer
The school year is structured, fast-paced, and full of expectations. Let summer breathe. Ditch the packed calendars and try a rhythm that feels playful and free. Even if you’re working full-time, you can infuse your family’s day with slower mornings, longer evenings, and simple joys.
Make Mealtime Magical
Turn an ordinary Tuesday dinner into a picnic under the stars. Toss a blanket on the grass, fill a basket with finger foods, and serve lemonade in mason jars. Set up lawn games—cornhole, croquet, or just a good ol’ fashioned game of catch. Summer meals aren’t just about eating—they’re about togetherness.
Camp in the Backyard
Yes, really! Set up the tent, pass around the bug spray, and tell ghost stories by flashlight. Parents, this is your chance to share stories from your own childhood summers. You’ll be amazed how wide their eyes get when they hear you once stayed up all night catching fireflies. And oh, the fireflies – watch them, try to catch them – name them. They are a wonder!
Grow Something Together
Plant a vegetable garden, even if it’s just a few pots of herbs. My husband’s family is full of “green thumbs”, and our children learned to love the dirt – to plant, water, and harvest right alongside their grandparents. Lettuces in spring, tomatoes in summer, purple hull peas and all kinds of beans were harvested and brought straight to the dining table. These aren’t just plants—they’re memories that grew and are shared today.
Teach the Old-Fashioned Arts
Make jelly, preserves and special treats. Can salsa. Teach your children how to preserve the very foods you’ve grown together. Cooking together is one of the most loving, lasting gifts we can offer. Bonus: it’s math, science, and family legacy all rolled into one.
Play—Really Play
Play freeze tag. Play hide-and-seek. Play board games or chase each other with water balloons and squirt guns. Get dirty, get silly, laugh until your cheeks hurt. This is the heartbeat of summer.
Make Time to Talk
Conversation is a fading art, but summer is the perfect time to revive it. Let the talks linger longer after dinner. Dream together under the stars. Ask questions. Share stories. Listen without interrupting. These are the moments where connection deepens, where children feel truly seen.
Go Somewhere—Anywhere
Whether it’s a family beach trip or a day spent discovering hidden gems in your hometown, plan something together. Let the kids pack their own bags (and gently double-check), create a family play list including hits from your past as well as your kid’s favorites, sing in the car, stop for ice cream, and make a memory. The destination matters far less than the joy of the journey.
Embrace the “Staycation”
Some of the sweetest memories are made close to home. Explore a new hiking trail, visit the local farmer’s market, or tour a nearby museum. Create a sense of tradition and excitement about discovering your own backyard.
Make a Tradition
Maybe it’s Friday night s’mores, a weekly family game night, or an annual weekend at Grandma’s farmhouse. For us, it was the weekends on the family farm—riding gates, feeding calves, picking peas, fishing with cane poles and tumbling in red dirt. Those moments stitched a kind of magic into my children’s lives, the kind that stays forever.
Capture the Memories
Whether it’s a handmade scrapbook or a digital photo book, document each summer. Let your children help choose the pictures, write the captions, and relive the joy together. You’re not just making memories—you’re building a legacy.
So yes, we only get eighteen summers with them. But what a wonder those summers can be. Pour yourself into the season. Let the sun warm your skin and the giggles fill your heart. And best of all, let your children pour themselves into you. These fleeting years may slip away faster than we wish, but the memories? They’ll glow like fireflies in a mason jar, lighting the way for a lifetime and a legacy for generations to come. Here’s to summer—every golden, grass-stained, watermelon-flavored minute of it!