The Dog Days of Summer

We are mere weeks away from the beginning of school and, thereby, the end of summer.  But as I sit here tonight in the sweltering summer weather, here in the hottest summer ever in recorded history, school, and with it the promise of autumn and cooler temperatures, seem forever away. 

Families will soon enough return to the fast paced life of packing the kids off to school, making PTSA meetings and Parent/Teacher meetings and class events.  Soon enough parents will be back to reviewing home work and wondering how projects get lost before they get turned in.  Soon enough children will be back to early bed times (initially before dark) and extremely early rise times (maybe initially still after dawn?)  Soon enough we will make sure the uniform is washed or just the right outfit is ready to go for the next day. 

But right now families are wrapping up their summer, taking their last vacations, winding down the week long camps for the children.  Within mere days we will be "back to school" shopping, meeting teachers, and standing astonished as our young ones go out that door again into a new grade, another year behind them and another year closer to being gone from our loving grasp.

But now, it's hot and it's steamy and it's lazy.  And it's summer.  And it's great.

Michael Manely

Summer Camp

In the midst of divorce, in the height of crisis and turmoil day after day, locked in the throes of litigation and courtroom battles, one right after the other, you might wonder how my small army of elite litigators keep their heads straight.

They don't.

No, really, they do.  I was just making that up.

We try to lead normal lives even though we take home with us the experiences that our clients share and the knowledge we glean from day after day courtroom battles. 

For example, this week, when I get the chance, I'm looking at summer camps.  I have three children, all  boys.  The two oldest are a long way from the days of summer camps, but my youngest is definitely down for some cool summer experiences.  And I am knee deep in assessing our summer options for his bright and inquiring mind. 

We have our usual standbys that I wouldn't think of leaving out, a week of sports camp, a week of nature camp, even a week of art camp which he has taken to, but what about the remaining weeks of the summer?  Sure, vacation will occupy a week, maybe two if we're real lucky, but since my wife and I both work, we want to provide him with enhanced learning opportunities, though I wouldn't begrudge him a few weeks just lazing around being bored during the hazy days of summer.

And how about you?  Summer comes whether we are ready or not. Summer comes and we've got to get organized for our kids. Our kids look to us to carry on as usual, no matter the trials, tribulations or ordeals we may be privately facing. 

And, in a sense, that's a very good thing.  Our kids help us stay centered, focused on the long term, focused on the good things. I think we need them every bit as much as they need us.

Bless our kids in every way and may their summers be wonderful.

Michael Manely