School is officially out, summer is officially in. Hopefully, you’ve had a chance to slow down, recover a little, and enjoy a wonderful Mother’s Day. Now it’s time to trade the packed calendars for pool towels, VBS, camps, and of course, celebrating all the dads and father figures in our lives.
Last month, we talked about what makes moms special. But what about all the dads? They bring their own unique brand of magic to the family dynamic. As Shannon Dead shares in More Than a Hero: What We Love About Fathers, there are many special ways dads bring a little something different to the table.
While the stereotype of dads being the instigators of mischief is not always true, in our house, it absolutely is. To be honest, I love it. Maybe not always in the moment, but definitely in the memories afterward. He’s taken the kids out for ice cream before dinner, built an over-the-top treehouse, and once bought MB a moped without telling me beforehand. She thought it was super cool. I, meanwhile, immediately considered purchasing industrial-strength bubble wrap.
And then there was the infamous Whipped Cream Fight of 2013. I walked into the kitchen only to discover all three kids, my husband, and both dogs covered in whipped cream. I didn’t even have to ask who started it because the girls ratted him out immediately. At that point, there was really nothing left to do except laugh… and run before I became the next target.
Some of our very favorite family memories started with something much simpler: Saturday morning garage sales. Brad loved getting up early to hunt for treasures, and once the girls were old enough to tag along, it became our thing. He’d hand them each a few dollars for their “treasure hunt,” and off we’d go. The mornings usually ended with Waffle House or Hardee’s biscuits. Those little Saturday outings quietly turned into something bigger: a family-wide love of thrifting. Even now, with the girls all in their twenties and Brad and me officially empty nesters, we still Facetime and text each other photos of our latest finds.
Having a “family hobby” reaps a lot of benefits, as Shannon Dean shares in this month’s feature, The Power of Family Hobbies: Building Memories One Activity at a Time. Dean even offers some suggestions for hobbies. I am sure if you look around, you may already have a family hobby you didn’t even realize was becoming part of your story. A great place to look for local family activities this summer is in our annual Summer Fun Guide in this month’s issue. In this guide, you will find plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy fun in the sun and also indoor activities for when you need to beat the heat or escape the afternoon thunderstorms. Whether your family is into hiking, amusement parks, reading, or roller skating, you will find plenty to do here on the beautiful Gulf Coast. Make sure you also check out the Family Calendar for even more local activities to enjoy along the Gulf Coast.
As we kick off summer, I wish everyone a safe and wonderful summer break filled with laughter and wonderful memories. To all the dads, thank you for all you do! Just one small piece of advice: if you start a whipped cream fight, do it during the summer so you can hose everyone off outside, including the dogs. While you’re at it, hand them some shampoo and soap. Mom will think you voluntarily gave them all a bath! Happy Father’s Day!
Author: Lynn Knighton
Lynn has called the Gulf area home since 2006 with her husband Brad and their 3 daughters. Following the sale of her Abrakadoodle franchise, Lynn still wanted to serve families and help them thrive. Becoming the Publisher of Greater Pensacola Parents was the perfect opportunity. Now she invests into family's lives each month by providing the area's #1 go-to resource for moms and dads.
