Seasons

Another of my random observations about family…..

If you spend any amount of time outdoors, you can’t help but be aware of the different seasons of the year. To me, there’s nothing like that first wave of cool weather in the fall, after 4 months or so of that hot sweltering heat we call summer. Before you know it, the first freeze, or near freeze of winter rolls through (yes, we get freezing weather even in Florida!). After dealing with the cold for awhile, I find myself looking forward to the moderate temperatures of spring, when all the foliage starts to bloom and turn green again. As we progress through the spring, I can’t help but look forward to the summer, when it’s actually hot and the water is warm enough to swim in without getting hypothermia. A couple of months into summer, I start to realize that it’s just too darn hot and….we’ve come full circle, and the cycle starts all over again.

What is the common thread in our continually changing seasons? I can think of several, but for me, the special events that we associate with the seasons of the year stand out the most – holidays, sporting events, family activities, and so on. It’s a continual cycle of looking forward to an event, sadness that the event has passed, that soon gives way to fond memories of the event, which quickly transforms into anticipation of the next event.

When I consider the cycle of the seasons, I find that it is much the same in the life of my family. There are seasons in my marriage, and in the lives of our kids. When our kids were born, it was much like spring – new flowers blooming for the first time and everything is new. Sometimes, I’m not sure what season we’re in. As both of my kids are essentially into the teen years, I’m reminded of the latter part of spring, when the weather starts to get stormy, as both of them evolve toward independence. On the other hand, when my son sleeps until noon, I wonder if it’s time for winter hibernation!

As our kids pass from one season to the next, I find myself a bit sad at times that the things they used to say, the way they acted, and the cute things they did as young children no longer occur. However, like the seasonal cycle, each new season is filled with its own unique events and accomplishments that I have come to cherish and appreciate.

What season are your kids in? Take time to consider that question, and enjoy the change of seasons in your family!