Summer Solstice at the Lake

It is the first very hot day of the season and it’s the first day of summer.
We plan to go to a local swimming lake to stay cool.

There is a huge mound of sand in the middle of the beach. The boys perch themselves up there for about 90 minutes and dig a hole at the very top, creating lots of rivers coming down the sides with little shovels. Where the water settles, they pile sand to make dams. They are so involved and satisfied by their play that I actually am able to do a little reading, looking up every 10 seconds to count little heads. They mingle and play and share ideas and toys with other kids, cooperating like a dream. There was no complaining, no whining, no correcting inappropriate behavior. They are happy.

We eat lunch. We move everything to the water’s edge where the boys, some new friends and I continue to dig holes and rivers, these empty into the lake. Each boy has their own hole so they can alter it without negotiations. The boys are starting to feel the heat. After about and hour of this, we dive into the water. The water is cold. The boys laugh and splash and practice their swimming and go as deep as they dare. They run out of the water and back in as fast as they can. We stay in the water for about an hour.

After rinsing off toys and toes, we head back to the car, change into dry clothes and make a detour to the homemade ice cream shop on the way home.
It was the perfect summer day. I sat quietly as the kids set the pace and were engaged with natural materials and friends. We were able to keep cool in the heat, and we ended the excursion with ice cream. What could be better?