We have another month until school starts and I have already over-heard several parents expressing their wish to have their children back in school. They talked about the desire for an end to the moans of boredom and the frequent sibling battles over the computer. These are parents who appeared to long for the time when their children would no longer be under foot for the entire day. They expressed their frustration openly and actually spoke of being tired of having their kids around.

These parental expressions are not new. I hear this familiar lament from parents every summer. I was disturbed by this parental attitude in the past. I am bothered by it now more than ever.

I am writing this blog from my bed in an upstairs bedroom as I recover from hip surgery. I’m listening to my children play outside on the swings and in the sand pile. I see them helping their mother water the flowers and gather vegetables from the garden. I hear them building with Legos in the play room, enjoying a game of Yahtzee at the kitchen table and yelling as they spray each other with the garden hose in the backyard. I watch out the bedroom window as they roll out a huge piece of plastic over the backyard deck and begin spraying each other with shaving cream. I can only sit and look as they build a tree fort in the backyard trees and raise a Jolly Roger to mark their newly acquired territory.

In the past, I would have joined in these and the many other adventures that take place through the summer. Instead, I am watching from afar, longing to be a part of the family fun. I don’t want the summer to come to an end. I can hardly wait to get back on my feet and join the activities. My pirate outfit is waiting in the wings and a bag of unopened water balloons remain hidden under my bed for the surprise water balloon attack that I would love to launch.

As I sit here longing to be a greater part in family activities during my recovery, I am perplexed by the lament of many parents hoping for the summer to come to end. Perhaps their frustration lies in not allowing their inner-child to come out and join the fun.

The summer is not over. You still have time. Will you let your inner child out to play?

Thomas Haller