I can barely recall the days when I eagerly anticipated the arrival of summer. Back then, as a school-aged child, summer meant a break from homework, teachers, and the dreaded dodgeball games where my short stature landed me last in line. It signified lazy afternoons by the pool, evenings munching on popsicles, and blasting Elton John from my boombox—seriously, who doesn’t love “Crocodile Rock?” It was a time for sleeping in, late-night adventures, and the occasional spontaneous trip to Walt Disney World.
But those days of carefree summer joy? Are they here already?
Now, as a parent to a lively 2-year-old, summer feels more like an endless cycle of diaper changes and demands for milk and Elmo, rather than a season to be celebrated. Time seems to blur into a monotonous routine where every day starts exactly the same: a diaper change followed by a request for milk, and then, of course, Elmo. The day wraps up in a similar fashion—cookies, more Elmo, and yet another diaper change. Honestly, what is it about that little red monster that captivates toddlers? I was more of a Super Grover and Snuffy fan myself!
Our days are filled with singing “Wheels on the Bus” so many times that I secretly wish for a dramatic bus accident just to get a break. Craft projects? They usually end with a colorful explosion of shredded paper all over the floor, and snacks inevitably find their way to the ground as well. Blocks, books, and toys become casualties in this toddler tornado, and I find myself spending at least half an hour each night cleaning up the aftermath. The daily grind from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. could easily make Bill Murray’s character from Groundhog Day lose his mind.
So, the notion of summer? It doesn’t thrill me too much. Here are a few reasons: 1) I can’t sleep in, 2) Staying up late is a distant memory, 3) Days off feel like a joke, and 4) Enjoying cocktails before 4 p.m. is simply not socially acceptable. (Who knew?) Instead, summer has transformed into one long, sweaty series of mosquito-ridden days.
However, there is one aspect of summer I actually look forward to: daycare. My daughter attends part-time daycare, and those hours become my much-needed escape to handle work, doctors’ appointments, and other adult responsibilities that I now equate with free time. Trust me, I had the most relaxing MRI a few months back! Sure, I could pull her out of daycare for seasonal adventures to the zoo or playground, but why disrupt her routine and jeopardize my sanity?
Let me clarify: I love my daughter dearly, but she’s only two years old. To put it in perspective, she’s yet to even experience 1,000 days on this planet. I have cans of tuna that are older than she is! She eats Kix off the floor and has a fascination with kitty litter. Will she truly appreciate the beauty of botanical gardens or the excitement of a waterpark? Not likely. Any fun we manage will inevitably end in tears—whether from her or me, you can guess. At daycare, she has wonderful teachers who provide a level of enrichment I can’t match while juggling work, and she enjoys built-in playdates, sparing me from the awkwardness of initiating conversations with other parents at the park.
So, for those of you enjoying a nostalgic “70s style summer,” I’ll be thinking of you. Every morning, as I rise at 6 a.m. and dive back into the same routine, I’ll feel a pang of longing mixed with envy, wishing for a taste of your carefree days.
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Summary
Parenting a toddler transforms summer into a continuous cycle of diaper changes, snacks, and Elmo, leaving little room for the carefree days of yesteryear. While I long for those nostalgic summer moments, I find solace in the structure of daycare, which provides a much-needed break and enrichment for my child.