Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Childhood Memories

We all have certain things that remind us of our childhood.  One of mine is sun tea. 

Orange Blossom Hibiscus Sun Tea
I don't remember drinking flavored tea as a child but I do remember laying out in the backyard sipping on my mom's iced tea or iced coffee.  Summers in Michigan were wonderful.  You just had to spend the entire day outside enjoying the warmth of the sun.  Iced Tea Days were savored and remembered because they were as simple as they were rare.

As a child, I don't remember ever contemplating what I was going to do on one of those days.  I just played, laid around and felt comfortable at home.  Now, as an adult, I find myself always having to do something on the weekends.  My husband and I talk about where we should go, what we should do, etc.  Always moving.  Never being still. 

I do not have ADD so that's not it.  I guess that I just hate the idea of wasting time.  But, why is it that I feel sitting at home and doing nothing is wasting time?  Isn't being still just as important as being productive?  Don't we need down-time as much as we need to be active?

It's about balance and accepting where we are in life.  Sometimes, we need to sit still in order to move forward.  We learn about ourselves during these quiet times at home.  As I reflect back on those summer days in Michigan, I remember how wonderful my childhood was and how this contributed to my adult self.  All of my childhood experiences are important in this sense.  They made me who I am today.  This is why I really appreciate simple experiences such as drinking sun tea, playing in the sand, having a slumber party with my husband and swimming until my fingers get wrinkly.   

*I'm participating in the 2013 A to Z Challenge. Every day in April (except for Sundays) I will be posting according to a letter of the Alphabet. To read more about my theme, click here.

25 comments:

  1. My mom used to make the best ice tea and she doesn't even drink it.

    Nice memories.

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  2. You're so right about the quiet days of childhood. I read somewhere that children need that 'boredom' to kindle creativity. Now days, children are aloways occupied with a screen, be it television, mobile, game etc. and they don't learn to occupy themselves.
    http://francene-wordstitcher.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. I like that thought: boredom as a way to foster creativity.

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  3. I miss those quiet, lazy days of childhood. Today's children, mine included, seem to always need to be entertained. I need to encourage them to have more "unplanned" time.

    TaMara
    Tales of a Pee Dee Mama

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    1. Isn't there a book about the art of doing nothing?

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  4. Yes, Jaime, unless you were the bionic woman, we do need down time, quiet, easy days, time to be spontaneous or lazy. Time to meditate and reflect. To recharge and renew. I'd suggest to hubby that the two of you have an iced tea Sunday soon. ;)

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    1. Thanks, Barbara. Sounds like a good plan to me:)

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  5. childhood memories can be a good source for stories!
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  6. I also grew up in Michigan. Life was slower then. I miss it.

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    1. I agree, life was slower when we were kids.

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  7. This reminds me of the powdery mix hanging in the air when I made iced tea as a kid (sun tea would have been better than Nestea mix probably...less coughing from the dust). Didn't we just think our supply of time was endless as kids? Great post!

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    1. Yes! Time was sort of in slow motion as kids. I used to drink Koolaid like crazy.

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  8. This was a nice relaxing post. Made me think of many childhood memories. Down time, me time any time spent contemplating life is good in my book.

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    1. I'm in total agreement. We need to remember times like this and try to recreate them as adults to help us slow down and enjoy life.

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  9. I am new to your blog (and blogging) and wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying your posts.

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    1. Thanks so much, Joan. Enjoy your evening.

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  10. I agree with TaMara- I miss those calm, relaxing days of childhood where you spend days in trees and running around- no care in the world... and yet for some reason, I always wanted to grow up- what was I thinking :)

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    1. I can't remember if I wanted to grow up or not. I have a terrible memory. Spending days in trees - I just love that. There's a hostel somewhere in Georgia (I think) that is really just a bunch of tree houses. How fun!

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  11. At 36 I am only just now learning how to not do something. I've always been one to need to be busy, if I'm watching a movie or a TV show, I need to have a craft in hand. If I'm washing the dishes, I'm already planning my next chore or activity.

    The other day, I was doing some yardwork and paused for a second to sit in a sunbeam.

    I think we need more of that.

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    1. I'm the exact same way. My mind is always going and sometimes I can't shut it off. I agree with needing to take time out. For me, that means getting outside (the beach, downtown, a park, the Mission, going canoeing) - somewhere to connect with nature.

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  12. I wish I could recreate the feeling of being a child where your only worry was what game you should play, even just for a day.

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    1. Wouldn't adult-life be so much easier if all we worried about was what game we were going to play? Maybe we should choose a certain day each month and make it a goal to have a No Worries Day:)

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  13. I love this! When I start to feel rushed or too busy, I always ask myself "what do I want to remember" and then I go play legos with my son or monopoly with my daughter. I think this weekend we'll make a pitcher of sun tea! ;)

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    1. I like that ask. You seem to really understand the important things in life:)

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