The Well Deserved Break!

Yup, it’s time to feel the sunshine on my skin, time to sit around the bonfire roasting s’mores, time to hop on your bike and hit the trail, yup it’s time to hang up the skates because SUMMER is HERE!

I LOVE HOCKEY! I love everything about hockey, but as much as I love hockey I know that we all need a break from it. My kids do, my husband does, and I do. And, this break is healthy, well deserved and definitely needed.

Kids need other activities during the off months. You see, summertime is so incredibly short, it often feels like you blink and its Labour Day. You as a family need to soak in May, June, July & August. You need to get to the beach and jump on that paddle boat. You need to lounge poolside with that book you’ve been waiting to read for the past few months. You need to take a hike to the local ice cream shop and listen to the neighborhood children play. You need to head out to watch your hometown baseball team on a hot and hazy Saturday afternoon. You need to sip a morning coffee on the deck watching a gorgeous sunrise, and end that same day with a glass of wine gazing at an amazing sunset.  You need barbeques with friends and families and laughter. Yes, we NEED this!

I just as many other parents and even hockey professionals themselves encourage you to let your children have their summer. Sports are all intertwined; baseball, lacrosse, track etc can all help with your hockey skills without even realizing it. You still require hand / eye coordination, speed, strength, and desire to name a few.  Many greats such as Wayne Gretzky & Bobby Orr have been very vocal about this topic and the importance of keeping active with different activities. We after all want to have well rounded children.

As for us and my little hockey family, we just purchased a mini home at the lake. My ’05 will fish with his buddies, and hit the golf course. My always ready to swim ’09 will hit the pool with her friends in their cute flip flops while munching on watermelon. My husband and I are going to be lucky enough to watch them do this – all of course while having icy cold beverages and running in the park with our new puppy! And, as for me the goalie mom Sunday morning Yoga on the beach is calling my name (not going to lie I am also waiting for an amazing strawberry sundae!).

Yes, summer is short. Before we know it, the leaves will begin to change and the feeling of the ice cold rink and frosty mornings with Tim Horton coffee stops will soon make its way back, and when it does we will embrace it. We will be refreshed and rejuvenated. We will be ready to BRING IT!

To all my fellow hockey moms, treat yourself with a lovely pedicure and enjoy every minute of your summer – you’ve earned it!