Summers in the ‘90s
Growing up in Romania, summers felt peaceful and endless. I remember being excited for the last school bell to ring so we can all break for the summer. The days were hot and mostly unscheduled. We had reading homework, which usually meant lingering around the house with a book in hand, but not for long.
The real highlight was going outside. We played with neighborhood friends, made up games, or just sat on sidewalks and stairs talking for hours. We laughed and stayed out until the sun went down, usually without a parent in sight. They’d come looking for us when dinner was ready.
Every summer included time with our grandparents. Sometimes our parents would drop us off for weeks. We’d sleep in, eat well, and spend the days playing: climbing trees, laying out picnic blankets with dolls, or wandering through the park. Being there meant great food, lots of attention, and a slower rhythm.
As I got older, I started going to one-week camps, usually somewhere in the forest. There were activities and outings, but the best part was being with friends 24/7. It was a short but memorable slice of freedom during my middle and high school years.
Fast forward to today: I’m a mom to a six-year-old in the Bay Area. Summer still means no school, but letting my child roam freely outside isn’t really an option. Grandparents are far away. So we turn to day camps.
There are plenty of options, but they don’t come cheap. We’ve done our best to choose camps that are fun and enriching, places where our daughter can learn and grow. Still, the experience feels very different from mine: new kids and instructors each week, new locations, tightly packed schedules, and very little free play. No daydreaming, no mid-day naps.
It makes me wonder what we’re optimizing for. Are we raising highly capable kids, but also teaching them to feel restless without constant stimulation? Does this carry into adulthood as chronic busyness, stress, and an inability to truly unwind?
Society has changed since the ’90s. Neighborhoods feel different, academic expectations are higher, and summer camp options are endless. But maybe the biggest shift is in our expectations. The kind of summer I had might feel too slow today.
And yet, I wonder if it was exactly the right speed for imagination, for rest, for simply growing up.
What do you remember most about your summers? And will your kids experience anything like it?
