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© OPINION “SUMMERTIME AND THE PARENTING IS EASY # THERE IS MUCH # MORE OPPORTUNITY 2T0 HAVE 2 OPEN-ENDED AND ® RELAXED 2 ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OTHER, WRITES GRAHAM HOOKEY There is a misconcep- tion that the summer break is only for students, but itis certainly an adult break, as well. Who could possibly think feacher's don't appre- nights when fe dont have to be grad- ing work or doing planning or simply stressing about the next day? Still, teachers aren't the only adults who get a break inthe summer; parents cer tainly do, too. Freed fro! the grinding routines: of getting up at certain times, fixing lunches, getting to school or pickup 01 dealing with daily Mecho ry GRAHAM HOOKEY Column priate rest for the next day of black-and-white sched- uled activities. Summer, though, offers a lot more shades of grey. There might be a few scheduled activi- ties, particularly if sports or camps are involved, but there is less emphasis on rigid timelines and more drama and then sitting down to support homework completion, the flexibility of summer routines seems like a cakewalk. Sure, there is still pai enting to be done, real if fe lessons to be learned, and Peer -group drama, but be- n family vacations and Tess hectic schedules for ev- eryone, therei ismuch more ment with each other. the normal routines of the school year, timelines tend to be a little more black-and-white. There are specific rise-and-shine times, specific times to be specific places, and specific bedtimes to ensure appro- phasis promises. What family doesn't negotiate m new rise. and-shine tim¢ bedtime Schedules during the summer? Tm a routine guy, partly a function of living my pro- fessional life as an. educator with bells ringing arc me constantly to eae me, and everyone around me, to end one period and start another period on time. I developed a pretty steady circadian rhythm of waking, working and seep: ing times that, quite hon- estly, di did not alter much in the summer. Such was not rhythms tended toward late mornings and late nights. The summer al- lowed me to work in quiet in the mornings and al- all seeme it happier with those offset schedules that allowed each of us a more natural and indepen- dent rhythm. The summer _ also seemed to offer more time for a lot of the family things we all know are important. Meals could be attended by everyone more often, allow- inga slower pace and great- er enjoyment and offering additional opportunities to touch base and talk about k a trip some- where that completely dis- rupted all of our routines and familiar surroundings and gave us all the chance to share common new expe- riences. We learned togeth- er and reflected on our ex- periences together, some- times around a campfire and sometimes in a venue of complete strangers who were sharing their own ex- TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT WATERLOOCHRONICLE.CA periences. Andsometimes thesum- mer simply offered us a break from each other that pre: its own "refresh" button, One or more of the kids might takea partial va- cation with someone else, a friend or relative, or they might go to a day or over- night camp. It was a time when they experienced a new level of independence, uple — healthy opportunities for ae ore wee equate summer break with kids getting some downtime, but I would argue it's an equally beneficial time for all mem- bers of the family. It's all about perspective some- times and adapting to and taking advantage of the new routines, or non-rou- tines, that give everyone a new lease on life before those late-August nights remind us of the impending return to school. Graham Hookey is the author of "Parenting Is A Team Sport" and can be This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metrolant ia Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants wri Council Suite 20), to Nanae St, ronto, Phone: A16- 3A! 981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca nne | Aocna “Saat | Canada editorial@waterloochronicle.ca facebook. .com/waterloochronicle @wichronicl WHO WE ARE Publisher and r Vice President, Editorial Lee Ann Waterman Metroland Editor-in-Chief Paul Berton Regional General Manager Nelson Parreira reached at hoo.com. THERE IS PLENTY TO THINK ABOUT WHEN CANADA DAY ROLLS AROUND On Canada Day, [forgot to get our country a day card. could pretend it was an accident like I do most of the time when I gap on birthdays I should ac- knowledge, but, in truth I remind me it was happen- ing. And it's not that I don't appreciate Canada _be- cause I really do. Taken in its totality, Ifully recognize 5 here. But the concept of 2 Canada Day has gotten a little indy and celebrating it like we always did - wear- 3 DREW EDWARDS: Column ingred and white stuff, par- tying hard while drinkinga zillion beers and watching works - seems out of step with the realities of life in this country at the mo- ment. First of all, the convoy crowd have somehow man- aged to appropriate the flag ind turn it into a symbol of their petty and inanely stu- pid grievances. When Isee a pick up truck two Canadian flags sung off loves Canada." In fact, I feel pretty confident that per- son's idea of what makes this country great deviates significantty from my own. Open- mindedness. Tol- cine. Quality education as close to free as we can mus- ter. High taxes with the un- derstanding that we live in a society where not all op- portunities are created equal and some people need a helping hand from time to time. All those things feel un- der siege, to varying de- S. ronically freedom does My definition of "free- dona isn't the ability to do to live wi consequences of your deci- sions, both good and bad. We live in a society and that, by its very nature, is the idea that we are better off working together than going it alone, even if that means the occasional bit of personal sacrifice. Talso struggle with how Canada came to be. While the country may not have been born of revolution like our southern neigh- bours, it is impossible to ig- nore the colonization and genocide that took place to make it happen. I don't feel responsible for or things that took place years before I nae ee but I can recog- nize how the system it cre- ated benefits me and still, to this day, oppresses oth- ers. Is it possible to love Can- ada but not celebrate Cana- da Day, to recognize how far we've come and how much we've accomplished and contrast that against how far we still have to go? To loveit hereand yotw want it to be so much bett This year, Ispent at Cleast some of Canada Day think- about what's good about this place and what needs be improved. There was lots to celebrate. But! think we're along way from a point where fire- works are justified. Drew Edwards of Guelph also loves the Mon- treal Canadiens, the Trag- ically Hip and the sound of Fresh snow crunching un- der boots. He can be reached at Ht drew(@drewed- wards.ca. sentatives Jan Bodanka, Matt Miller, Lisa ae imphreys, Cassandra Del Managin g Editor Robyn Wilkinson ‘Online Editor Loraine Centeno Ned Bekavac Reporter ap Jackson Director vices Paul Gos tin iterloo Chronic! 219 Labrador Dr. suite He Waterloo, On., N2K 4M8 Phone: 519-886-2830. Web: www.waterloochronicle.ca rs to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. 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