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One of the great injustices in my life is that my husband is a teacher and I'm not. Sure he goes through nine months of wild kids, late nights, and stressful days. But come June, he's done for eight straight weeks. That's eight weeks of sleeping in, lazing around the wading pool with our kids, and life with no schedule, no deadlines, no nothin'.

The problem is that summer is completely wasted on my husband. He grew up in the south, where summer is pretty much like spring, but with higher humidity. I, on the other hand, grew up in Minnesota, where summer is the equivalent of a "Get Out of Jail Free" card.

But my honey doesn't like the sun—he's worried about skin cancer. And he gets bored sitting around the back yard—he likes to have something to show for his day. By early August, he's ready to have a reason to shower again.

And me? What I wouldn't give for an excess of sun and free time! If I'm ever the president, I'm going to pass a law that all moms get at least one month off every year—preferably July. Sure we can hang out with the kids if we want, but someone else gets to feed and clothe them. Our only duty is to play and rest and read (or shop for shoes or drink a whole Diet Coke while it's still cold or whatever your personal private-time fantasy happens to be).

Okay, so maybe a month is too much. How about a day? Can you spare a day for yourself this summer? Lisa Johnson encourages all of us to figure out what we need to keep going as moms—maybe it's a photography class, maybe it's just a foot rub. But I want to join Lisa in giving you permission to fill yourself up this summer in whatever way feels right to you.

God never intended moms to drain ourselves dry in our efforts to be great parents. It really is okay for us to nurture ourselves a bit. Look at Jesus. He knew the importance of getting away from all the demands of life and renewing himself through prayer, through quiet solitude, through time with dear friends.

So go—grab your CPT and head to the pool and tip your face toward the sun for a while (with adequate sunscreen, of course). Walk in the park as slowly or as quickly as you want, ride your bike, eat an entire ice cream cone by yourself. Talk to God and let him refuel you with his own brand of parental love. Then you'll have what you need to get back to the next round of wild kids, late nights, and stressful days.

Happy Summer!

Carla Barnhill, Editor

Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Parenting Today magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Christian Parenting Today.

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