Summer Break Up

For my girls (which means for me and my wife as well) summer has come to a close. Tomorrow they go back to "school".  The summer of 3 and 4 has been unexpectedly more fun than I thought it would be.  We were free from schedules, the TV collected dust (for the most part), and the girls had the time to learn to be sisters.  Every day was filled with something to do while never feeling rushed.

Tonight as the dusky sky inches into night and the girls lay in bed waiting to fall asleep, I have a tinge of that end of summer feeling I would always get on the last day of summer.  The FINALE.  The bittersweet sinking feeling of the turning of a page.  I don't remember much about being 3 or 4, but I imagine the feeling universal and sinks in more and more each summer.  I know that Ruby could feel it tonight and that it will hit Gertie tomorrow when she gets there.  It makes you just want to hold them tight and tell them that everything will be alright.  That we all have this happen and everything will be OK.  That it's normal.

But we know better.

Because words can't always mend a broken heart and it's heartbreaking to part with summer.

Tomorrow will be here soon enough.  The breakup with summer will be final.  We'll exchange our stuff saying goodbye to beachballs and sandboxes.  We'll board up the playhouse together and amicably give up the picnic table but insist on keeping the fire pit for the fall.  We'll give each other a final glance as we part, giving a wave as we walk away.

If summer hasn't ended for you please do your part.  Take it all in.  For me. For Emily.  For Ruby. And for Gertie.  We will remember ours fondly.