“Spring break is right around the corner,” writes Pam Molnar, a frequent contributor to WNY Family.
“While most of my friends have plans to travel to warm beaches, see new sites or visit Mickey, our family will
be staying home again this year,” she says. “My teenagers will watch their friends (via social media) making
memories with their families in faraway places. Although they may feel a twinge of envy, my teens know that
you don’t have to go very far to make memories that will last a lifetime.”
In her humorous essay, Twas the First Day of Spring Break, she shares “a little of the magic that my children
found inside a mall, a forgotten closet, and the hearts of their siblings. Starting out in a room full of three
sulking teens, the day progressed to be one that we will never forget.”
‘Twas the First Day of
‘Twas the first day of spring break and
all through our town One brought the chip bag; the other
the dip “Are you kidding?” they asked me,
while cocking their heads.
The houses were empty –
there was no one around. The third with the drinks took a very
long sip. I stared at them in disbelief, but “No,”
was all that I said.
The families all left on magical trips, I watched with amazement as they all
settled in With a look of defeat, they all handed
me their screens.
To the spring break destination of my
favorite kin. “What will we do now?” was the cry
from my teens.
They escaped our world with a flash of
their screens We were going out. I told them to get
dressed.
And pondered the fun of other far
away teens. Our destination wasn’t clear, but we
set out on our quest.
And the stories they tell will be even
better, I knew I must stop this. They needed
some air. They stumbled to the car, shouting
“Shotgun” on their way.
How they played in the sun while we
were stuck in bad weather. “The sulking is over,” growled mama
bear. They argued about who sat there last,
and then we drove away.
At least that’s the story from my teens’
point of view, “Get off the Xbox, the iPhone, the
tablets, too! Our first stop was for fuel – not for
gas, but for food.
How they’ll be home all week with
nothing to do. No more Minecraft or FaceTime or
Netflix for you!” My teens needed energy to squash
their ugly mood.
So off to the family room, with their
shoulders slouched They looked up from their screens
with a face of surprise. We headed to the mall. It was a place
that they knew well.
My teenagers fell with a sigh on our
couch. My son scratched his head, while the
girls rubbed their eyes. The food court provided greasy fries,
subs, and Taco Bell.
To spend the next week on beaches or
ships.
They’ll go to great restaurants and
come home with nice tans.
They’ll have more fun
than you can count on
one hand.
10 WNY Family March 2019