Surviving Parenthood

by Kirk Kraft

Kirk Kraft of Marysville is married and the father of four children, all under 8 years old, in whom he takes great delight. He believes parenting is a journey filled with joyous peaks and difficult valleys, but it is also the greatest privilege in the world. He can be reached at kraftka@verizon.net.

The Pacific Northwest is blessed--or cursed. It depends on how you look at it.

We rarely have those scorching summer days where people can be burned to a crisp. It's sometimes humid, but not with the sticky humidity that makes you consider taking another shower, even though you just took one, once you step outside. On the flip side, we rarely have weeks of hot weather, which many of us desire, in order to fend off the impending winter weather that will submerge us in months of overcast and cold.

Summer is a fun time, no matter which side of the fence you fall on. It's a time to travel, to play, to relax and to have weekly (or nightly) BBQs in your back yard or with friends. It's important to remember that the warm weather also brings warnings.

For small children, it's imperative to have them lathered up with sunscreen throughout the day and to avoid the sun during the hottest part of the day. There is nothing quite as painful as a lobster-red sunburn for a child.

The heat also drives folks to the water. Whether you are on the Sound itself, in a swimming pool, a river or a lake, water safety is crucial. Small children should always be closely watched when near these bodies of water. Life vests are necessary in all these environments. Even if the children know how to swim, they need to wear life vests on boats. Accidents don't just happen in pools but everywhere. Many of the tragedies that occur in local lakes and rivers could have been averted with life vests.

Summer is also fair time. It's always been one of my favorite times of the year, especially since I have had kids. The joy of watching them observe the animals, run all around the fairgrounds, jump on the carnival rides and eat, eat, eat is priceless. But in such crowded places, it means you have to keep them close at hand. Never let your kids out of your sight and if they are young, like my kids, I advise holding their hands. This way you eliminate the chances they will run off, get lost in the crowd or-every parent's fear-be snatched up.

Summer is about fun, no doubt, but when it comes to our kids, let's make it a safe summer.