"Making Summer Memories in a Bad Economy"

Have you ever had a summer that had a schedule that was so jammed packed that by the end of it, you have to look back on the calender to try to remember what you did? That you were so exhausted, that you needed a vacation to recoup from your vacation? That if you weren't constantly on the go...something was tragically wrong?

We used to be that family, long summers spent in Maine, camping trips in Pennsylvania, day trips to the Blue Ridge mountains, and all kinds of amusement parks, movies, lunch outings, and so on and so on. We truly ingulfed ourselves with all the sensations of instant gratification and the need to be constantly entertained by others. Money just flew out of our pockets. It was grand and glorious, so we thought, until I was laid off from my job in June of 2010.

In the summer of 2010, a summer I'll never forget and will always remember it fully. We were hit with a financial storm that rendered us literally trapped in our home. No money for gas, we could barely pay the bills, let alone put food on the table, yet somehow we managed, how - I don't have a clue. I did odd jobs, and made crafts to sell at local events. My husband worked his butt off with no time off.  No matter what we did, it was never enough, we had hit rock bottom in our budget. It got to a point when we would have to fill travel jugs with diseal fuel to put in our oil tank so we could have hot water. That even though the kids were growing out of their shoes, they would still try to wear them. That breakfast wasn't a smorgasbord of that special sugary cereals in the panty.

Yes, I know your flippin' out, "cereal" you say?  "You were worried about not having sugary cereal?"  To a parent that is not a need, but to kids, it's this kind of simple change that sparks their thinking that something is wrong. For my kids the cereals caught their attention briefly, it was when we had to put an end to cell phones and electronic devices - This was when their reality of our situation woke them up. 

Losing a second income to us was devistating. Yet we learned something that summer to help us transition into a new way of summer fun for 2011.  It's not about big trips and going here and going there. It's not about filling up that suit case full of tourist trap items that seem a necessity at the time, but then fall victim to the growing years of travel clutter you finally realize you never needed. 

We found out, what was important was family and good health.  That first summer that I was out of work, I felt depressed that I couldn't give my kids the constant busy schedule of always going off and doing something. I know, Dumb hua?  I felt that the only way they would have fun is to go everywhere and anywhere.  I was so wrong. Did you know that kids really enjoy watching Shark Week on the Learning channel, especially if you make a big bowl of popcorn and some red Kool-aid to make it fun. That they really do love dad's old train set, that had sat in the garage for the last 15 years, and still have an imagination to bring that train and it's buildings new life?  That if you let them use your craft paint, they will create something if you give them time?  And the biggest of all, planning one or two small trips means more to them, than having a calendar with every day filled to the brim. 

A lot has changed for our family since last year. Financially the road is still unpaved. My husband is still working and I now have been able to claim some of the unemployment benefits that is offered to those of us, endlessly trying to seek work. We can now pay our bills and not wonder where the money is coming from, but clearly the days of spending friviously is no longer a part of our lifestyle. 

This summer we were able to go to Michigan to see some very dear friends over the 4th of July and then in August, we took a day trip to Ocean City.  We were very careful with our funds and didn't fall victim to aquiring souviners to mark our trips and it's memories. We used our cameras and took pictures to capture the fun that we all had.  We found that just being able to spend time with friends and family were more important than any huge oversized rollercoaster or water park. That simple gave us so much more...the ability to bond as a family once again. That those two trips that we took meant so much to us, and the best part...we can remember everything we did.

So next time when your putting together your crazy schedule of family togetherness, whether you are financially stable or doing your best to balance your budgets, remember that sometimes just being together in the same room watching a movie has more of lasting impact, than constantly filling the car or packing the suitcases. There is nothing more important in life than simply being with the ones we love.

Reese  Ryan  Ron (My husband) and Myself
Michigan 2011

Reese and I, in Ocean City
August 2011