Time to Celebrate…Last Day of School!

It’s finally here; the last day of school.  Kids are ready.  I’m ready.  Now, it’s time to celebrate!  At our house, that celebration comes in the form of a family water fight.   It started on a whim as we welcomed our first kindergartener home with a few water balloons and very lame water guns.   Now 10 years later, it is a highly anticipated event.  

My husband and I pick just the right hiding spot and await the arrival of our children.  Our buckets are filled with water and balloons are ready to launch.  Flip top water bottles and filled water balloons hide nearby ready for the kids to find.  In the distance we hear laughter and see the first of many excited children heading for home; arms full of treasures from the last day.  Friends become “watchmen” and signal when our children are within sight.  They watch with anticipation and begin offering cries of warning as we hoist our “weapons” for attack. 

They’re home!  Eyes widen just as the first stream of cold water hits.  School treasures are safely tucked away in the corner of the yard and they’re off; screaming, yelling, and defenseless!  We laugh and declare victory until they find the hidden stash.  Balloons begin to fly and the water hose turns on.  The tide has turned.  Four against two—we are all soaked and the kids declare victory.  It’s summertime!

Each year the strategy of attack varies, but the end result is always the same.  Our family connects and celebrates together.  As our kids have grown, so has their creativity and resourcefulness.  My personal favorite was when they recruited another family to join the fun. They made arrangements for a ride home on an alternate route and snuck into our backyard to attack us from behind.  Victory was all theirs!

Connection is different for every family.  For us, it’s a water fight.  What does your family need?  In the next few days, consider what they would enjoy.  Then, take action and create a moment—keep it simple.  Invite hearts to connect as you celebrate the end of the school year and welcome in summer.