For the last eighteen years, my children and I have been going to the beach with friends, or alone as a family, once a week during the summer.

Last year and this, I have come to realize that beach days provided us with more than just an opportunity to make lasting friendships.

When we first moved to the city in which we live, I thought that beach and park days would provide an easy way to get to know other homeschooling families.

Going to the beach each week has helped to foster friendships between my children.

It has given them something that they like doing together.

Although we still head to the beach together once a week, my older children will occasionally get home from work and ask, “Can I go to the beach?” They will follow their request by asking brothers and/or sisters if they want to go with them. 

Recently, as three of our children headed to the beach, I told my husband, “I did something right.” He said, “What was that?” I responded facetiously, “I taught our children to like the beach.”

More importantly than teaching our children to like the beach, I inadvertently fostered loving relationships between our children.

I hope that they always find joy in spending time with each other.