Saying goodbye to summer and hello to fall

Last night we were sitting around the dinner table, as we do almost every night. And, just like almost every night, I asked them to tell me a story from their day at school.

(Incidentally, there’s one piece of advice I have for you. Don’t ask your kids how their day was, or even what their favorite thing was. Ask them to tell you a story. I get actual answers this way.)

“I don’t really have a story,” my son said through a mouthful of enchilada. “But I do have a song. My teacher taught it to us.”

“Okay, hit it. But swallow first,” I said.

While he treated us to a very sweet, off-key rendition of some little tune called Goodbye Summer, I thought about how it was a great way to transition the kids from one season to another.  It also gave me an idea. When he was done, I asked, “What is your favorite memory from summer, anyway?”

We sent summer off in style, thinking of a whole list of things we’d enjoyed: our favorite hikes, our stay in Baxter, ice cream runs, hanging out on the porch swing, going for late evening swims instead of taking a bath. It really gave us a sense of closure for the season.

But why stop there? Tonight, when we have the inevitable conversation about it being the first day of fall, why not look ahead to what we’ll enjoy from that season? We’ll talk about what things we’re looking forward to and what autumnal experiences we don’t want to miss. We’re going to try it, and I’ll try to remember to do this throughout the year. What better way to keep building an appreciation for what each season has to offer?

I’m not singing, though.

Cherie Galyean

About Cherie Galyean

In a perfect world, Cherie Galyean would spend hours every day chasing her kids up hiking trails, pretending to garden, and baking things. Instead, she works full-time in the non-profit sector and fits those other things in-between loads of laundry in her free time. A Maine native with multiple hometowns, she currently lives on Mount Desert Island with her husband, seven-year-old daughter, five-year-old son, and the best shelter mutt in the world.