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Main Page Site Index Getting Pregnant Pregnancy Parenting Pregnancy and Parenting Journals Fertility Nutrition Pregnant Moms Morning Sickness Women's Health Child Health	Summertime, and the Livin' is Easy! The endless, dragging months of winter have drifted away and left in their place fresh, bright, new days full of wondrous things to enjoy. At least, that's how I see it after being cooped up and limited to certain activities for five arduous months. Let's see, it was library Monday, school Tuesday, swimming (indoors, of course) Wednesday, school Thursday, and Friday was always a surprise. In a city renown for its cold winters, outdoor pursuits with young children in tow are not a highly rated option. So hip-hip-hooray for springtime! Summer is just around the corner and already the rollerblades come out, the bikes get their tune-ups, the wagon gets dusted off and winter boots and jackets get stowed away in the basement. Yippee! With the coming of summer comes an endless array of exciting and time consuming options. Why, we've already jumped in the wagon and sloshed our way for an hour to get to music class, thriving in the sunshine that led the way. The parks and playgrounds are wet but accessible and will soon be visited twice a day. It won't be long before the wading pools open their gates to the winter-logged public in dire need of a dip and a ray of sunshine. And the treehouse? Well, we visited the treehouse a few times in the dark, chilly afternoons of winter and I must be honest with you. It's a tad difficult to pretend to enjoy a tea party when your bum is numb and frozen to the ground. But now that it's virtually summer, tea all around! There are a few laborious aspects of the lazy, hazy days of summer though. Instead of dragging out the winter boots, getting on the hat, the scarf, the mitts, the snowpants, the big, burly jacket, only to then be told a potty break is required, we are now subject to a different kind of pre-outing ordeal. Summer requires a whole other slew of necessary items before an outing can take place. First, the baseball hat, if you can find it since the last time it was worn, then the sunscreen gets slathered on, much to many youngsters squirming disagreement (not that stinky white stuff again, is often heard). This step can almost be harder to accomplish than fighting to get them into their snowpants. Then the bugspray. Oh, the stay-still-close-your-eyes-don't-breath-this-in-come-back-here-I-missed-a-spot bugspray. Fun, fun, fun for the whole family! But once all is said and done, bike rides can be had, picnics can be eaten, bug watching can resume, and rollerblading lessons can commence. And that is infinitely more satisfying than running to the car to avoid frostbite, chilling away while the heater cranks itself up into an overworked frenzy, and a mad dash is made to enter the place that was your final destination. While blowing out and watching your own frosty breath appear in front of you makes a quick game or lesson in science, its appeal is short lived once it freezes in its place. Winter, winter go away, we want summer here to stay! Although it is only April, the snow is all melted, the birds are singing, the sun shines almost regularly, and the look of many adventures to come is in children's eyes. Whether they spend their days exploring and learning at a camp or at home, new things will appear to them everyday. Perhaps they'll learn how to rollerblade, or they'll perfect riding on just two wheels, or maybe they'll discover a new type of bug they've never seen before hiding under the deck, or maybe they'll hit that first tennis ball, golf ball, or baseball with just the right swing. Summer can be a time of many firsts, and even old things seem new again. The first visit to the local wading pool that was so frequented last summer is greeted with such anticipation and joy that it seems like the first time that they have ever set foot in water. But that is the pure joy and innocence of kids. It doesn't take much to get their spirits high and their imaginations running. And let them. Let them run away so far that the wading pool becomes a moat filled with angry crocodiles and you are the stranded princess alone in the castle and the brave young knight has to rescue you. Let them enjoy the warm, inviting days of summer and they'll be rewarded with a lifetime of memories to get them through the gloomy days of winter. Summertime; a recognized-sure-fire-can't-miss cure for cabin fever. Take once daily, good for all ages. Charlotte Macchia has been a full time nanny for nearly 5 years who has been taking care of little George since he was one month old. She has been married to Patrick (Pasquale) Macchia since August, 1997 and is looking forward to having kids of her own. She has recently been published in Equinox magazine and is looking forward to a career in writing which will allow her family time also. She was born in London, England and now lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the prairies of Canada, but seeing as her loves include hiking, climbing and skiing, hopes to move west soon! Patrick, George, and Charlotte