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In the summer months, I often find myself explaining to my three boys that watermelon seeds won’t result in watermelon babies. As I lounge in a hammock dreaming of cooler climates, they’re busy diving for oversized coins in our delightfully makeshift above-ground pool, clad only in their underwear—once again unable to locate their bathing suits. These elusive swimsuits are probably buried somewhere in the yard or perhaps overlooked in our guest bathroom. I’m swatting at mosquitoes while drenched in bug spray, shouting for the umpteenth time to avoid splashing their younger brother. Soon after, they leap out, call for towels, and dash around the yard still half-naked.
And let’s be honest, summer wouldn’t be complete without our yard resembling a disaster zone.
Despite sweltering temperatures that can exceed a hundred degrees in July, our children thrive outside. We want them to stay away from screens, and with a trampoline, a pool, and a swing set/climbing wall/monkey bar complex, they certainly have options. However, they often choose to create their own adventures—by demolishing our yard.
We Gave Up on Grass Due to Holes
When it comes time to sell our house, we’ll be looking at a hefty bill for sod. With three kids and three dogs, our yard has been transformed into a barren patch devoid of grass, replaced by a dirt and jungle-like expanse. We have trees, lots of them, providing the perfect materials for building forts, secret hideouts, and homes for toads. Attempts to grow potted plants have been thwarted by my husband’s mischievous dog, a mix of Shepherd, terrier, and raccoon, who delights in uprooting them. So, we’re left with a lot of dirt.
And in our area, that dirt is mostly sand.
Sand is exceptionally easy to dig up. My Shepherd mix wants to be wherever the kids are—because reasons. Meanwhile, our 120-pound German Shepherd thinks he needs to safeguard them from all potential dangers. But dogs don’t fare well in the heat, so they have their own solution.
They dig enormous holes.
The smaller dog can only manage shallow digs. My larger dog, however, digs with relentless enthusiasm. My kids can easily sit in the holes he creates, which dot our yard like craters on some alien planet. This doesn’t even account for the holes my kids dig to “make a lake,” which involves excavating the yard and cranking the hose to fill it up faster than the sand can absorb the water. Spoiler alert: it drains quickly, which means the hose needs to stay on. They plow through the mud pit, often fully dressed, while the smaller dog joins in, while the German Shepherd looks on, unamused.
Our Yard is a Mess of… Stuff
Creating a lake requires tools—several shovels, to be precise, because if there’s only one, a sibling will monopolize it, leading to screams of frustration until another is located. You need a hose, which will invariably be left strewn across the non-existent lawn. And if you’re my seven-year-old, you’ll need dinosaurs to surround the lake, presumably to engage in some drama, like falling in and meeting an untimely end. All these items linger in our yard because who wants to pick them up when it’s sweltering outside?
Then there’s the pool, which produces its own clutter. I watch them get in and out, and somehow, someone always forgets a towel. While I dash inside to grab one, someone is already tearing through the house naked, or has discarded their towel in the dirt, leaving a trail of swimsuits and towels in their wake. Confiscated pool toys, like squirt guns and foam noodles, litter the area, alongside a depressingly deflated float. Yes, our yard is a mess, but who wants to clean up in 115-degree heat?
A Makeshift Clubhouse
And just to top it off, my children may or may not have built a clubhouse under the trampoline.
It Signals Summer, After All
All this chaos signifies that we’re spending time outdoors. That empty bourbon bottle by my hammock? I was sharing a virtual drink with friends the night before, which explains the tangled cords from my laptop. Those pool floats haphazardly piled nearby show that their dad and I occasionally join them for some relaxation, sometimes even after dark when we enjoy the privacy of our fenced yard.
While our yard may be a disaster, it’s actively used. Our kids aren’t glued to their screens; Dad and I are outside watching them play, while the dogs keep watch on dry land. Everyone is happy, and if you’re keen on filling holes during this blistering heat, be our guest. But honestly, my kids thrive in this quarter-acre of dirt and play structures, and it certainly helped maintain our sanity during 2020. We love our messy yard—grass is overrated anyway.
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Summary
In conclusion, we’ve embraced the chaos of our yard, where our children engage in imaginative play and stay active outdoors, even if it means sacrificing tidiness. This summer, the mess is a testament to their joy and creativity, reminding us that a perfect yard isn’t the goal—happiness is.
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Keyphrase: messy yard summer fun
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