As you may recall from yesterday's post, this past weekend was blazing hot. So hot that I actually consented to a beach trip on a weekend day. Years of being a SAHM have spoiled me for going to popular places on weekend days; alas, the school is awfully picky about the kids attending on weekdays . . . so when Social Butterfly wanted a beach day, it had to be Sunday. I was struck by how the times had changed.
Not my picture, but it is our beach . . . La Jolla Shores. Great bathrooms!
Going to the beach with:
a toddler-- YOU pack a large cooler full of snacks, drinks, etc. YOU gather sand toys, towels, umbrella, etc. and load the car. YOU apply sunscreen to a whiny child who doesn't want sunscreen applied. YOU get up early because a) the toddler does and b) it is imperative that you get a spot in the parking lot. YOU schlep above mentioned items like a Sherpa. YOU never, ever, for even one nano-second, take your eyes off your child.
When you get home YOU unload over-tired, possibly crying child, hose child off in the front yard and (hopefully) put child down for a nap. Then YOU unload car, rinse items as necessary, put everything away, shower yourself, think you'll lay down for just a second (you know how the sun takes it out of you) and OMFG your child is awake and it's dinner time. Your head explodes.
a teenager--You wake up at 8:30 and check gmail and blogs for about 15 minutes. Jump in shower. Teenager comes in to inform you that car is loaded, drinks are packed, and to apply sunscreen to your back. You drive car to pick up friend, stop at store for a giant sub sandwich to be shared by the three of you, and drive to the beach. Because you could walk if you had to you decide to take just one quick pass through the parking lot (surfers tend to be leaving about 10) and get a spot in the front row. The three of you together carry the umbrella, towels, and chairs--not too much for any one person. You sit down and read your book for 3+1/2 hours. They do some stuff; you can't really say for sure because you don't actually need to WATCH them.
You drive home. While you shower and take a nap the teenager unloads the car and puts the towels in the washer. You don't fix dinner (you know how the sun takes it out of you); everybody fends for themselves.Your head does not explode.
Sometimes all you hear about teenagers is doom and gloom. There is another side.
As a towel-umbrella-snacks-drinks-cooler-beach chairs-toddler-and four-year-old schlepper, I salute you.
That sounds heavenly.
Posted by: Deb | May 20, 2008 at 12:17 AM
Oh, manual labor. I do love when my guy is a big helper. Yeah you, and yeah teenagers.
Posted by: Grandy | May 20, 2008 at 12:37 AM
Man! I can't wait to have teenagers! Now, if I could only get a warm beach within a few minutes drive, I'd be set!
(My husband grew up in La Jolla, and LOVED it!! Beautiful area)
Posted by: MamaMo | May 20, 2008 at 12:37 AM
I choked when you said "great bathrooms!" Luckily, I was not eating or drinking. The beach with toddlers? Umm, yeah, that's why we so seldom went places with just mom. The beach with teens (really? Sunscreen w/o being told? AND you get screened, too?) sounds wonderful. I might have to try it.
Posted by: kcinnova | May 20, 2008 at 01:04 AM
Amen Sistah! And when they go off to college/graduate from college, the holidays are like that too! They cook. They bring home men who can cook. They bring joy. They bring presents. They bring home men who can hook up computer stuff. It is good.
Posted by: Cheri | May 20, 2008 at 01:21 AM
I SO agree with the last comment! It is HEAVEN when they get older!! But, I really, really wish I was close to a beach right now. It was about 40 degrees here last night.
Posted by: bichonpawz | May 20, 2008 at 01:27 AM
I love how you led me through a minor migraine with the reminiscence about toddler care, out into the blissful future of self-sufficient & responsible young adults sharing a delightful afternoon.
Blessings indeed.
But I don't get it - the water at your beach is warm? heh.
Posted by: stephanie | May 20, 2008 at 02:10 AM
Thanks for giving me something to look forward to other than the craziness normally associated with teen angst.
Posted by: Tricia | May 20, 2008 at 06:49 AM
I am sooo looking forward to this stage in my boys' lives!! Just moving from the 'stay with me all the time even while I go to the bathroom' stage to what we have now..."Koji? Issei? Sorry...don't really know where they are now...come back later." is so niiiiiice and I'm loving it!!! At least when they get a little older, they will actually start doing stuff and taking care of things.....right? they will, right? I will go and say a quick prayer at the temple just to make sure this actually happens!! So glad you had such a good day!!!
Posted by: debbie | May 20, 2008 at 07:14 AM
I agree. Somethings DO get easier!!!
Sounds like a fun day.
I too, avoid such places on the weekend...add the mall to the list.
Posted by: Suzanne | May 20, 2008 at 07:17 AM
ahhhh, now I REALLY regret not having kids :-)
Posted by: Janet | May 20, 2008 at 07:31 AM
Ah something for me to look forward to with the boys.
My daughter was never one for beaches - she was so fussy about sand she couldnt' bear to get a speck on her - it takes hours to get off the beach, even now and she is 19, because every last speck of sand has to be removed from her toes. So irksome!!! I feel like hosing her down!
Posted by: Reluctant Blogger | May 20, 2008 at 07:49 AM
Good to know there is light at the end of the child-rearing tunnel - it sounds like SB is a very thoughtful girl - must have a lot to do with the way she was raised!
Posted by: Chatty | May 20, 2008 at 08:02 AM
Bliss!
Can I borrow him?
Posted by: Domestically Challenged | May 20, 2008 at 08:08 AM
Your teenager does LAUNDRY? Oh my, can he/she come stay at my house and teach mine a few things??
Posted by: Denise | May 20, 2008 at 08:39 AM
Next February when the northeast is knee deep in slush, I am driving over to chatty's in Arizona (she has a very inviting looking pool) then I am coming over to your house and you can take me and my wife and beagle to this beach. We may stay forever.
Posted by: gary | May 20, 2008 at 09:02 AM
While I enjoy my way at the beach (young children), I look forward to yours. It sounds simply peaceful. Well I don't want to wish my life away, but it is nice to have things to which I look forward!
Posted by: amy | May 20, 2008 at 09:36 AM
I can't wait to go to the beach with teenagers one day!
Posted by: Jen on the Edge | May 20, 2008 at 09:58 AM
Sounds like bliss. Truly it does.
KEEP BELIEVING
Posted by: Angie | May 20, 2008 at 10:11 AM
I went for a bike ride with my teenagers. It was so nice....no one one cried or whined...no one fell down or had to be reminded to stop before crossing the road. I watched another family struggling along with wailing four through seven year olds. I smiled. Life is good.
Posted by: Mary Alice | May 20, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Light at the end of the tunnel? I like it.
At this point, I'd settle for a kid who can pour his own glass of milk without leaving a puddle on the table.
Posted by: The Mom Bomb | May 20, 2008 at 11:04 AM
LOL, I decided this weekend that I wanted my kids to be born at age 5. They seem more self-sufficient and less sticky at that age. (I was in a wedding this weekend where we were around 2 5-year-olds and 2 very needy 19-month-olds for the whole weekend.)
Posted by: Stacie | May 20, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Stacie, my older bro has 4 kids and he and his wife always say they'd have 12 if they could pick them up at age 5 (it used to be age 3, then 4, and rose as their children got older). And Jenn? Love your post, and your kids rock. I never doubted the teens (says the former middle school teacher).
Never pegged you as a braggart tho. ;)
Posted by: MamaBird/SurelyYouNest | May 20, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Yup - they can be THE BEST and the worst. Love, love, LOVE mine too. (Most of the time!)
Posted by: Becky at Swirling Vortex | May 20, 2008 at 01:00 PM
I. Can't. Wait. :)
Posted by: Claudia | May 20, 2008 at 01:31 PM
Rock On. People think I'm nutz when I say I love my teens. Not that I didn't love them as toddlers, because I loved every age. But teens and snow skiing is so way better than even thinking of doing that with small kids. Can't wait for beach weather!
Posted by: The Girl Next Door | May 20, 2008 at 01:34 PM
You have totally given me hope for the future! hallelujah! Maybe I'll live through teen years.
And I so want to go to the beach!!!!!!!!
Posted by: CC | May 20, 2008 at 01:36 PM
Oh the hope. The dream. It lives bright and beautiful thanks to this post!!!
Posted by: melissa | May 20, 2008 at 01:39 PM
WHAT teenager are YOU talking about!?
I have no experience with this new lifeform that you refer to.
My only experience with a teenager was that of slamming doors, eyeball rolling and "MOM! Can you PLEASE walk on the OTHER side of the STREET PLEEEEEEEEZE?"
Posted by: Dana | May 20, 2008 at 01:59 PM
I'm going to pretend you wrote this Just.For.Me. You NAILED the toddler part! I hope you're equally accurate on the teenage years. I'm holding you to it.
Posted by: Jamie | May 20, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Oh this post does my heart wonders!
And my kids want to know why the trips to the neighborhood pool make mommy grouchy. Um, all the stuff to be packed and unpacked, still MY job.
Posted by: Karen | May 20, 2008 at 02:43 PM
They do? Can I interest you in a teen timeshare?
Posted by: Hilary | May 20, 2008 at 05:19 PM
going to the beach,that is something that I have not done in like forever.May be I should,except the beaches around here are not so hot.
Posted by: Mike Golch | May 20, 2008 at 06:01 PM
Sounds fantastic. 3 1/2 hours with a book? Sigh...
Posted by: Jennifer H | May 20, 2008 at 06:48 PM
Ohmigod you just convinced me to have a teenager. Who'da thunk that was possible?!
Posted by: mandy g. | May 20, 2008 at 08:04 PM
Ohmigod, you just convinced me to have a teenager!
Who'da thunk that was possible?
Posted by: mandy g. | May 20, 2008 at 08:05 PM
Holy crap that was inspiring! Thinking about schlepping my 14 month old twins around and that it might ever be easier is just relieving.
Posted by: MereCat | May 20, 2008 at 09:14 PM
: ) Eagerness to get somewhere is a big incentive to help. The husband is like this whenever we go down to NYC.
Posted by: Bipolarlawyercook | May 20, 2008 at 09:27 PM
wow. Thank you for what is (hopefully?) a glimpse into my future.
Beach days are still exhausting right now...
Posted by: LifeAsIKnowIt | May 20, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Are we done gloating yet?
Posted by: suburbancorrespondent | May 20, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Not that I'm ready for my kids to be grown but I would really like to close my eyes at the beach just once as a mother. Just once.
Posted by: Tootsie Farklepants | May 20, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Yes there is, and I love it.
Posted by: Mrs. G. | May 21, 2008 at 01:34 AM
If only we lived close to a beach!!!
Posted by: apathy lounge | May 21, 2008 at 09:33 AM
We're nose-deep in the shlepping stage. So much so that we purchased the Radio Flyer All Terrain Wagon to make an even bigger spectacle of ourselves on the beach.
Posted by: Manic Mommy | May 21, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Sounds heavenly to me. sigh. I am supposed to be taking my 2 preschoolers and 2 preteens to the beach this summer. not restful.
Posted by: Kristen | May 21, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Great post. Of course, now I'm dreading the beach this weekend with my toddlers. But it's really nice to know that it truly does get easier.
Posted by: the mama bird diaries | May 21, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Ho ho! Truer words have never been written. Try having teenagers and then suddenly getting a baby. Talk about a shock to the system.
Posted by: Jason | May 21, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Well, you thoroughly depressed me, the one living in preschool beach paradise...but, then you've given me hope!
Posted by: JCK | May 22, 2008 at 01:23 AM
That is something to look forward to!
Posted by: magpie | May 23, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Testing
Posted by: Jenn @ Juggling Life | May 25, 2008 at 01:29 PM