Doing without

Some time ago I linked to an article entitled Deprivation by Fan. It's still one of my favorites. We too "deprive" ourselves and our children. No A/C here in our old New England home. There are a few days a year I wish we did, but we survive, and we make do. This whole week promises to be one of those kinds of weeks - 90+ degrees, little relief at night, sunny. Summer in a nutshell. So, we'll enjoy lots of frozen lemonade, sprinklers, showers, the pool and other wet fun, and of course, visiting the library (which is air conditioned of course). And we'll learn to be nice to each other even when hot and sweaty - for the 4th day in a row - and we'll build character by doing without. Not an easy lesson - creativity required - but an essential lesson for sure.