I Love Summer

For the longest time I was kidding myself when I said my favorite season was Autumn.  I love the fall.  Cool weather, hockey season begins, beautiful scenery, hockey season begins, my birthday, football season begins, and hockey season begins.

But I've decided that, as a teacher, summer trumps all that.  Here's why.  My top 12 reasons, in no particular order.

12. No school.  Duh.  That means no lesson plan writing, no papers to grade, and no stress about new, stupid evaluation practices.

11. Shave today? Nah.  Shave this week?  Maybe.

10. I don't have to worry about packing a lunch or eating those crappy frozen meals.

9. I get to spend much more time with my kids.  Granted, sometimes I want to wring their little necks, but in general I love the time I get to spend with them. Most non-teachers don't get to spend as many waking hours with their children.  I am very thankful for that.

8. I spend a lot less money on gas.  A LOT less.  Since I don't have to commute each day, it is amazing to me how much less I need to fill up my tank.  I am a glorified chauffeur during the summer, carting my kids to and from camps and activities, but those are mostly in town so my tanks last much longer.

7. Those warm summer nights.  I love walking outside in the summer.  It is so peaceful.  I also enjoy the community atmosphere.  There's people sitting outside on restaurant patios, fountains spouting water, and parks busy with people.

6. Staying up late.  I enjoy the time with I have with my family, but I also enjoy "me time."  The only time I really get that is once everyone has gone to bed.  I use that time to surf the Internet or watch movies.  I'm usually up to about 1:30am every night.

5. Sleeping in.  Most summer days, there's no alarm to wake me up.  My kids get up before me and get right to playing.  So they don't even wake me up.   They are pretty self-sufficient when it comes to breakfast too.  So I just stay in bed and rest, even if I'm not actually sleeping.

4. More tennis!  Hockey is my favorite sport, but I love tennis.  Unfortunately, this summer I have not been able to play much because of my elbow injury but I'm hoping to be back in the saddle next summer.

3. I feel more useful.  During the school year, I am either too busy or too tired for home projects.  During the summer, I have time to accomplish things.  That sure keeps my wife happier.  I'm also able to take the kids to appointments that my wife would usually have to take care of during school months.

2. I can cook!  I have trouble finding the motivation to prepare meals during school months.  But during the summer, I have time and energy to do it.  I love to cook!  I even find recipes on the Internet to try.  My favorite way to cook is to grill.  Unlike others in my family (Dad!), I don't enjoy cooking in cold weather.  So summer is my time to cook the way I like best!

1. My house is clean.  I live with a bunch of slobs.  Of our family of five, I am the one most concerned with a clean house.  During the school year, I don't have the time or motivation to keep things as clean as I would like them to be.  But during the summer, I can stay on top of things.  So far this summer I think I have vacuumed more than ever and have even machine-cleaned our carpets.  You probably shouldn't visit us in the winter!