Moments of bliss

The last three evenings, my kids and I have gone swimming at or after sunset. The water at the beach is calm, no one is running about, and the sun setting behind the Adirondacks is beautiful.

The first time I took them, my 5-year-old kept asking if his friends would be there. He usually plays the older kids and thought he'd be bored without them. But when we arrived, he was thrilled by the fact that he was at the beach "kind of late" and he played in the water with his little brother. It is the best they have played together in several weeks.

I forgot to bring a life jacket for my 2-year-old to swim in. At first I was afraid of the risk, but he adapted well. He's been swimming better and better every day. By the third evening, he was showing me how he can "go underwater." He holds his breath and tries to go under. He only goes up to his nose, but it's a start and I was happy he was finally going under without sucking in water.

These evening swims also allowed me some time to read. Usually when I come down other families are there so you socialize. But I was able to sit at the water's edge and watch the kids while reading. It was a wonderful atmosphere with the difference in lighting and the stillness of the waves to remember how blissful is life.