The transition to summer always brings an odd shifting in relationships and activity. School has ended. What marks our days now?

Routines have shifted. It seems as if I’d see the kids more, now that we’re all here all the time. But, that’s not necessarily the case. I still have work, and they have their own pursuits. Plus, I’m no longer a taxi service–which also means I no longer have hours each week of chatting time with teenagers in my car.

I wouldn’t have guessed I’d miss that–seeing how much I hate driving. But I find I do (miss it).

But it’s fun to make plans, to learn new things together. And I’m quite aware that this transition to summer is one of the last few I’ll have before my kids move on to a more adult life. When my young people (when did they stop being littles?) propose movies to watch, skills to learn, time to spend together, I jump on that.

How could I not? I’m very aware that my time with them is short.

I want to make the most of it.