May 26, 1999

DOWN HOME:
It's good ol' summertime;
make time for your kids
___Feel that? It's the breeze generated by the collective sighs of children and teachers across Texas.
___Ready or not, school's out in most districts. Yea.
___Back in the "olden days," summer seemed to last forever. We got out of school by Memorial Day and didn't go back until after Labor Day. Three golden months of fun in the sun. Today, however, so-called summer has been reduced to about two months, plus or

MARV KNOX Editor

minus a week or so.
___Activities crowd the schedule even further. If you've got young 'uns in baseball or softball, your schedule doesn't get free until July or later. And if you've got a kiddo in high school, your schedule may get booked by the end of July. So, we're down to three free weeks. Hooray.
___But regular life patterns, at least, change the day school's out. Gone for awhile are nights of homework, early mornings at the bus stop, and PTA meetings, concerts, field trips, booster club meetings and run-of-the-mill academic what-not. For awhile, anyway.
___So, thank God for summer. It's a change-of-pace season of the year. It's a chance to spend more time with kids, whose advance through the grades rivals the speed at which they run out the schoolhouse door when the last bell rings. They'll grow up before you know it, so take this summer to spend time with kids. Some ideas:
___ Go on a picnic. Kids love it, especially if you hurry and do it before the temperature hits 108.
___ Go swimming. Kids love it, especially if the temperature hits 108. And they especially love it if you actually swim with them. Save sunbathing for when they're gone to college.
___ Spit watermelon seeds. Kids love for you to make a fool out of yourself. And it's good for them to see life isn't always serious.
___ Drive someplace far in a car. Eventually, somebody's got to talk. And when you're not talking, listen to their music on the tape player. Either way, you'll learn more than you thought possible.
___ Make ice cream. Kids love it. And if the temperature hits 108, eat it inside or pass out straws.
___ Read books. Out loud, to the kids. Doesn't matter how old they are, they still love it.
___ Take a vacation. Even if you have to camp out in the backyard or sleep in a cabin by a lake, get out of the house and away from the phone.
___ Play games and put puzzles together. Some of the most magical family times happen spontaneously when parents and children spend plenty of time together with no big agenda. So what if you can't afford to buy Boardwalk? You're with your kids.
___Summer time is family time. God bless you as you hang out with your children or grandchildren this summer.
___

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