Mama’s Musings

(Light on posts this summer because of so much summer fun! Even now I am writing from my parent’s home on another beach visit.)

I grew up on the beach. I continue to take my kids to the beach as much as possible. I love the beach, now welove the beach. It is not that I am a sun worshipper–certainly not! I keep a hat and sunscreen on most of the time. Sitting at ocean’s edge yesterday watching my kids and their cousins each finding their own revelry I pondered what it is about the beach that draws me here like a giant magnent each summer. There is other water to play in, pools, lakes, and the like much closer to home. (We drive five hours to come to Grammy and Pop’s and of course seeing them is always wonderful and has its own appeal–that is not to be questioned!)

Reason #1: The beach has very few rules. Stay safe and respect other people. That kind of covers it for me. Staying safe means each child knows what their personal limits are as far as the water is concerned whether it is feet only, knees only, waist only, stay with a buddy, and stay within the orange flags. Respecting others covers use of toys and space and throwing sand. Oh, and keep your suit on. Kids like very few rules. As a parent I like very few rules. If you feel like rolling in sand–go for it! If you feels like running wildly in circles, it is your prerogative (if it does not negatively impact someone else). Yelling, stomping, splashing, even spitting, all forbidden most places, are a-okay at the beach. (My nephew Jack was blowing his nose directly into the sand, I didn’t make a big deal.)  All good stuff.

Reason #2: Sea and shore cry to be explored, and not carefully. My theory is that all kids are mini-scientists trying to figure out how the world works. The beach is perfect for this. Whether they know it or not they are learning about measurements as they pour water back and forth between different containers, physics as they build sand castles, art as they study the colors and patterns in the shells, biology as they watch the small life forms in the tidal pools. But kids don’t need those names, those categories, as they discover, enjoy each new thing, unrushed, unhampered by any expectations. The pure joy of building a drip castle just to watch where the next drip will go is a reward all its own. If they feel like smashing it that is okay too. Collecting shells is great but seeing how difficult or easy it is to smash them is fine to. True exploration does better with little rules to hinder it.

Reason #3: All senses are stimulated. Not everyone loves the beach, which is a difficult thing for me to fathom. But I have come to this explanation–some people do not like having all of their senses aroused in this way. Me and my kids we love it! Before we can even see the ocean itself we can smell it in the air, taste it on the breeze, hear it in the distance. If you have ever slept within a stone’s throw of the sea by an open window before opening your eyes your ears, nose, and mouth tell you where you are. The roar of the surf, the call of the gulls immediately calms me. And not to forget the tactile experience! Yesterday my 18-month old niece Sheridan upon reaching the sand flopped down to experience the sand all over her body, swimming in it. I have been on other sorts of beaches but I have a preference for the fine sand the squished between your toes when wet, pours smoothly when dry. Sand is very relaxing to manipulate, rake, shovel, pour, smooth. And then the water! Sitting right at the water’s edge feeling the tide come and go is a favorite place to play, feeling that water come and go. We jump waves, we ride waves, we dive through waves, into waves, and over waves. We float. Often I come out of the water feeling like I have had a massage.  Then there is the temperature to stimulate the senses as well cool water or warm warm cool breeze warm breeze. Even feeling the textures of the rocks, shells, seaweed, barnacles, jellyfish, driftwood–we love to touch it all, soak it all up.

We come away from a day at the beach blissfully exhausted, senses satiated.  We love the beach.