As the summer wound down, I found myself with mixed emotions about our son starting kindergarten. I dreaded the early morning alarm, the monotony of packing school lunches, and the rigidity of being on a school schedule. But I was also excited to see our son become more independent, make new friends, and discover new interests.

To deal with these mixed emotions, I took our kids on a couple of last minute day trips to Half Moon Bay. Seeing our older kids running in and out of the waves while our youngest played in the sand was the perfect way to end not only our summer but our son’s pre-elementary school years.

When our son was a baby and a toddler, I loved having the flexibility to drive to the beach, zoo or museum on a random Tuesday morning. Many times these outings felt like mini-vacations. I would come back feeling re-energized and ready to tackle the rest of the week.

Over the past few years these mid-week “vacations” dwindled and now, due to school and classes, only happen during the summer months. But as we sat on the beach, I couldn’t help but reminisce about our son’s early years. I was so very grateful that we were able to follow our own routine and enjoy the extra freedom and flexibility before our schedule was filled with more and more commitments. As our kids grow up, I hope we can always find time in the summer to spend a carefree day at the beach and just enjoy each other’s company.