Following recent parenting research suggesting we overprotect our children in the real world while under-protecting them online, we embraced a 90s-style summer, granting our kids greater independence and freedom. The approach proved remarkably successful—the crew got along better than usual and thrived with their newfound autonomy.
We launched the season with a festive and busy Fourth of July weekend, but shortly afterward, I was sidelined by one of the most severe cases of strep throat I've ever experienced. For two days, I was completely out of commission. During this time, the kids rose to the occasion in remarkable ways. They asked if they could bike to McDonald's together—and I said yes. Later that day, I awoke from a nap to discover them hosting their own "field day" games in the backyard.
This independence flourished throughout the summer. They spent hours cutting down a dead tree at Ty's request and operated their lemonade stands entirely on their own initiative. Owen would scooter to Target for supplies, they'd transport their stand to their chosen location, and handle cleanup largely themselves.
When our neighbors moved, everyone was sad to lose Hannah and Christopher as playmates, though they made the most of their remaining time together in late June and early July. Meanwhile, Wes discovered the joy of neighborhood scootering, spending afternoons with Kingston or the Varier family on Brackenfern Drive.
We've worked steadily to establish cleaning routines, and this summer they finally clicked. While still a work in progress, we raised expectations by adding daily chores for everyone—vacuuming, dishes, or folding laundry. The boys have also taken over yard mowing. Seeing their growing sense of responsibility has been rewarding and has genuinely helped with my daily tasks. Combined with being able to leave them home alone for errands, I felt much less overwhelmed than in previous years.
The boys showed brief enthusiasm for tennis before switching to pickleball, then moving on to other pursuits. Aside from a three-morning lacrosse camp, we maintained a deliberately camp-free summer schedule. Owen spent many afternoons securing complimentary snacks around the golf course and clubhouse.
On my work days, the children spent time with their cherished nanny Lizzy or with Benson, both of whom they adore. Lizzy's family home on Fox Island became their preferred destination, where they delighted in riding the gator, hitting golf balls into the water, and playing pool. When Benson supervised, they often congregated at his house—a children's paradise complete with a full music studio, craft stations, trampoline, and rock wall.
We enjoyed two boating weekends between repair trips to Olympia and embraced swimming at Rosedale. Our outdoor adventures included hiking and swimming at both Dickerson Falls and Devil's Punchbowl. We spent a wonderful weekend in Eatonville at the Hights' new homestead, Owen enjoyed several days in Seattle with the Magnolia Rallos, and Hazel joined Grandmy and Grandpapa's beach excursion with Olivia, Lily, and Lizzie. Owen barely touched his phone and shifted his focus from friends back to family for the summer.
Hazel welcomed guinea pigs, Raff and Mocha, into our family, learning to care for them quite independently, including cage maintenance.
Our summer travels featured an epic two-week road trip through Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming (detailed separately). After a two-week break at home, we ventured to Bellingham for Mt. Baker hiking to celebrate my 40th birthday—fulfilling my dream of beginning a new decade in the mountains. I also celebrated with a delightful Chelan weekend with my sisters and girlfriends, though Rachel's absence due to a devastating loss was deeply felt.
The persistent boat issue—a backordered part unavailable until October—resulted in several disappointing days when water activities fell through. Despite my efforts, none of the children read as much as I'd hoped, and we indulged in more movie nights than I care to admit.
The week preceding my birthday brought an unexpected health scare when stroke-like symptoms necessitated a 48-hour hospital stay. Fortunately, after comprehensive testing, I was diagnosed with a complicated migraine rather than something more serious.
Despite these minor setbacks, it was a lovely summer. Ty took substantial time off work, providing more family time than usual, and we spent countless hours exploring the outdoors together. This season reinforced for all of us the value of independence, responsibility, and the simple joy of unstructured summer days.
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