There’s a popular idea that most of us only get about ten good summers at the end of our lives.
But there’s another set of golden summers we rarely talk about — the first ones.
In this reflection, I explore the idea of the first 11 golden summers: the brief window when your child is small, when you’re their hero, their safe place, and their favourite person in the world.
I talk about time, presence, and the quiet truth that many of the most important moments in parenting don’t announce themselves as special — until they’re gone.
This isn’t a message of guilt or perfection.
It’s an invitation to notice what’s already here.
And for parents whose children are older, it’s a reminder that history is not destiny — meaningful moments can always be created.
If this resonates, I hope it encourages you to choose presence a little more often, while the season is still here.