Summer Water What do you like do with summer water from sprinklers, pools, lakes, oceans, squirt guns, etc to stay cool? It is amazing to me how different things are now from when I grew up.  When I was growing up, we didn’t have the internet.  Cell phones were for wealthy business people and were usually attached to a car.  And we sat down most evenings to eat as a family.  We joked every year that our Spring Break from school it would rain.  (Although, in our house, my mother has a curse that requires rain any time we plan something outside . . . especially camping!)One of the worst things that could happen to us growing up, was to have a summer rain day.  We hated it!  Could there be anything more annoying?  A beautiful summer day . . . perfect for playing outside . . . wasted on account of rain!  We were forced to live the day inside, without being able to run and play.  Being forced to play Atari (Video Games) or watch TV.Yes, we were able to have our friends over, but that still didn’t get out all the built up energy we had stored inside.  I mean, that is what summer if for, isnt’ it?

As an adult, this tragedy doesn’t grip me the way it did when I was a child.  It is most likely because, as an adult, I do not get a summer break from work.  I am forced to do my job day in and day out all year long, waiting patiently for the 1 week a year when I can take my vacation.

About 15 year ago, when I was living with a friend, John, it began to rain on one of these summer evenings.  He was dating another friend of mine, Mel, and she had come over this particular evening.  I was in my home office working away and she came in and shouted, “Lets go play in the rain!”  I laughed.  So, she said it again.  I laughed again.

Summer Water Games for Kids and Adults

This spawned a 20 minute conversation about why, as an adult, I was not going to go play in the rain.  Finally, she ended the conversation, and won the argument, by shouting, “You apparently are too old!  When you decide you want to be a kid for a little longer, join me.”

Now, I don’t know if she knew that I would give in and join her or not, but what I do know is that I did.  We spent about 90 minutes playing in the front yard, getting muddy and splashing around.  We laughed, played tag and Hide-and-seed which are really dumb with only 2 people!  We had a blast!  My friend, and her boyfriend, watched from the front room of the house and just shook his head.  He didn’t see the fascination with the rainfall and certainly did not want to get cold, wet, or muddy.  It was one of the best days I have had, as an adult.

As a child, I can remember wanting to relive those kinds of days more often than it rains here in Indiana.  (Although, this year, I would have no problems finding the days to play in the rain as it has rained more this year than in any other year in history!)  As a result, we learned to play in the sprinkler.  Here is an interesting blog that even provides games to play in the sprinkler:  Games. Make sure you continue to pass on these fun old games you played as a kid, to your own children by taking photos, and writing down how to play some of your favorite water games. Pass on this fun in a Time Capsule to your own children, so your grandchildren can also know how to play these games, or any other summer water games you make up as a family. Get a time capsule today, here, to save your memories in for years to come.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Mark