The Peters family was returning from Yellowstone National Park when their dad spotted some grizzly bears playing by the roadside. He decided to stop to watch and get some pictures.
One of the bears wandered over to a car and began sniffing, then it crossed the road and came straight for the Peters' car. The bear sniffed, tried to climb up on the hood and pawed at the windows.
Throughout the bear's visit there were lots of giggling, gasps and comments about how big he was, and the size of his paws. One child said, "Go away!" Another commented about how curious the bear was. As it was getting up close and personal with the family, one child commented that this was really freaking him out.
After about four minutes, which probably seemed like an eternity, the bear decided to move on. As it trotted across the road, one of the children exclaimed, "We're alive! We're alive!" Another said, "That was the scariest thing on Earth."
Those children will probably remember that close encounter for their entire lives. Not only will they tell their friends, but they may write about this summertime memory when, on the first day of school, the teacher asks them to write about what they did on vacation. There is a good chance that when they play Truth and Lies they will include the grizzly bear story, hoping people will think it is a lie. If they have children, they have a ready-made bedtime story to tell time and again and, of course, the grandchildren will ask for the story repeatedly.
Sweet summertime memories. What do you remember about your summers growing up? Not everybody has a bear story, but there are amazing adventures to be had that will transform into lifetime memories - and you don't necessarily have to go anywhere or spend a lot of money.
If you are at a loss for ideas, here are a few suggestions to get your creativity going:
' Challenge your children to learn something new. There is nothing like the exhilaration you feel when challenged to do something like learn to ride a bike, how to cook, how to kickflip a skateboard or how to dive when you actually accomplish it.
' Encourage outside play. It is hard to make memories with your eyeballs staring at a phone, iPad, computer screen or television. Make your own Slip'N Slide, start a garden, take a picnic to the park or teach them the games you used to play as a kid such as kick the can, freeze tag, hide and seek and wiffle ball.
' Plan a family adventure together. Whether you are taking a staycation or vacation, engage your children in planning the adventure. Team a younger child up with an older teen or parent and keep the day's activities a secret. Create clues for each portion of the day and let the rest of the family guess what they will be doing.
' Document your escapades. Get your children to keep a summer journal, take pictures, make a collage or scrapbook. You could even reserve the front of the refrigerator as your summer gallery. It doesn't have to be perfect or pretty.
Whether you are going on a bear hunt or hiking to the swimming hole, summer memories are important and can become great conversation pieces for years to come.
Julie Baumgardner is president and CEO of First Things First. Contact her at julieb@firstthings.org.