We headed back to school with Saucony Jazz Lite. Thanks to Wolverine Worldwide for sponsoring this post.
As we closed out the first month of school, I packed and prepped our family to head to Palm Springs for the first time as a family of four. The last time we were there, I was incredibly pregnant with Blake. This time, he was riding a scooter and ready to join Kayla in all of the fun. Yes, time is flying.
Craig and I continue to come back to the same resort because the villas are built around a series of shallow ponds, paths and bridges that are peppered with ducks. There are no cars and you can see the entirety of the property, so it’s a place where we can relax and parent from afar. It’s about as close as you can get to the old school “go out and play” experience many of us had as kids.
And while I can’t scientifically prove it, I think this where some of the best life lessons happen. Wherever you can send your kids to go out and play without having to hover. For two and a half hours, Kayla and Blake scooted, jumped, conspired, hid, fished with twig fishing rods, ran, chased each other and giggled like crazy.
I stepped in for a bit to capture the moment, but otherwise stayed out of the way and let them do their thing. With the exception of making them come back and grab a pair of little lanterns when darkness set in, I provided zero guidance.
Craig and I sat on our patio and reminisced about our own childhoods, when life actually seemed this simple. We shared smiles, watching this set of siblings we created truly enjoy the company they had and the freedom they were given.
It was a reminder to me that while I’m grateful for helmets and modern day car seats, there is still plenty to love about back-in-the-day being a kid. Parent-free play, Otter pops, beads on your bike spokes and even old school kicks.
I can still remember wearing a pair of grey Saucony sneakers for nearly all of sixth grade. When I saw these new Jazz Lite sneakers in Blake’s size my face practically turned into one of those heart eyes emojis. Plus you know me, anything grey and white!
And what goes better with cute throwback shoes than other cute throwback shoes with a modern color for the big sister? Kayla completely approved. I like that her metallic blush Jazz Lites are breathable, durable and lightweight.
As one of four girls growing up, hand me down clothes were a way of life. One thing my parents never skimped on though were shoes. They believed in giving us shoes that would let us run and play comfortably. And they never got upset when we got them dirty by day two of ownership.
Those are small principles I have carried over into my own parenting. Kayla comes home from school and camp looking as though she has been lost in the woods for a few days. While I admittedly shake my head as I toss items into the laundry and buy stain removers, I’m grateful that she hasn’t lost her sense of how to be a kid.
