can you remember your favorite childhood summer memory?
Today is a sizzling, blistering, ovenbaked 33°C. Wow.
My thought — > Summer is now sitting comfortably under a colorful beach umbrella ; doing her job heating the island whilst sipping a cold lemonade . Ironically, Mr. Sun looks so cool doing just that.
Anyway… Now that school’s over, and the kids (and the nannies as well) are all engrossed with their tablets and all their other one-way-no-interaction-to-other-beings gadgets, I try to come up with some exciting and “memory-making” things to do during this season. Wouldn’t it be so nicer to grow up, looking back at one particular summer when you did something else, rather than using up all your time in front of your laptop, TV sets, tablets, the works… ?
Plus I think, Summer is the best time to create and build more memories with your kids and your families and your friends 🙂 .
What memories to create within 2 months of Summer vacation:
1. If you are a parent who is on a very tight budget, no need to book a flight to the most famous beaches. Aside from eating a huge chunk to your savings, those famous beaches will probably be too busy, too crowded and too noisy for you and your family. If you guys really want to go swimming, research and ask around about a nearby beach resort. Those resorts aren’t just cheaper, they’re also manned by the best staff; people who will have their 90% attention to you and your needs. These resorts also offer activities you and your family can do together (snorkeling, trekking to waterfalls, beach volleyball, island hopping, food trip) – a chance to make memories!
Top Beach Suggestions – Taramindu Beach, Laiya, San Juan Batangas ; El Canonero Resort, Talipanan, Pto. Galera (i’ve been to these two resorts before, they’re peaceful, they’re heavenly, they’re affordable, they have GREAT FOOD!)
2. To families who are adventurous and even to those who seek adventure, you should try to hike and climb up those beautiful northern mountains. Believe me, you and your family or friends will be talking about it for years and years to come. 🙂
I therefore suggest – Mt. Pulag / Sagada (nope, they’re not a walk in the park, but the sights you’ll see are far better than parks! hehe, corny i know) Take a lot of pictures!!!
3. Learn a new language. Do you watch movies and TV series in foreign language, with no subtitles, and still watch them??? Then this might interest you — > Language Learning Center of Miriam College
Admit it, there’s something really sophisticated with someone who speaks more than two languages, isn’t it?
4. Okay, so if you really do not want to spend some money this summer, then try this fourth tip:
“I want to ride my bicycle, i want to ride my biiiikke!” – Queen
Go get your old bicycles in your garage, give it some oil, call your friends and be like these young boys at a local plaza. They look like they are really having fun right? I’m envious. 😀
5. If you dont want your kids to bike around town, as you live in a really urban zone, read my fifth tip.
Make them do some household chores. Do them together. No, don’t let them carry your heavy pales nor let them mop your hornitex flooring. Make them do the dishes, or make their own beds, or arrange all their toys and organize which are to donate and keep. Sort out your numerous stuff – from clothes to toys. Keep some, lose some.
Doing chores together, not only improve your marriage (ehem), but can make your kids more competent and responsible. It would all boil down to them building their character, and making them independent and strong.
If all the chores were done, and two months of vacation stiil wasnt over yet, exercise. 🙂 Run. Be free. or climb up and down the stairs. Dance. Challenge the strength of your legs! 🙂 Believe me, not only this tip would make you feel stronger, more alive, but it would be so habitual, even during school days, your kids will squeeze in some time to exercise. 🙂 a much healthier you. great memory i suppose. 🙂 (ah this tip i should do more often!!!)
6. Cook. Or learn it. Careful with the knives and the stoves though. What a rewarding feeling it would be for the kids to host the dinner for your family. a beaming memory in the making.
So there goes my 6 tips. Remember, do something new every single day, no matter how petty it can be – or at least every other day. Let us try to break our and our kids’ “techie savvy” habit. We are a little bit more consumed now with technology, let’s try something new once in a while. By new, I mean something that can make your kids’ eyes off that tablet, and off that chair too 🙂
PS:
The child in the picture is my nephew. This summer, he will make hamburgers and paint aprons. But on regular days, he tries to be like Spiderman – wear his uncle’s socks on his hands as his gloves and an old bonnet on his face as his mask. He runs around like that. He doesn’t own a tablet, but he does play Fruit Shoot and Basketball using my sister’s phone.
islandera 