How To Make Summer Memories That Stick

""The 'fun scale,' she writes, "which first circulated in climbing books and media in the 1980s, divides outdoor recreation into three major categories. At one end of the scale is Type 1: You expect to enjoy yourself and you do (a day at the beach). At the other end of the scale is Type 3: not even remotely fun, catastrophically bad, something never to be repeated (shipwrecked). Somewhere between those extremes is the perfect fun, the kind of fun that pushes you past yourself and (hopefully) delivers you back to yourself in better condition - stronger, happier, full of fresh gratitude for comfort and company.""

""The answer to that, I think, is yes. But the memories are not found in volumes of ice cream, the rides at the county fair, the hours of pool time and picnics, or the (shockingly expensive) songs and bonding they had at camps. I believe that in the long term these simple joys will become part of a happy and balanced childhood, but they're not the kind of thing they look back on and say, "remember when ...?" The "remember when" moments are a different kind of fun - Type 2 fun. Type 2 fun is the stuff of memories. When we tell a great story about travel or adventure - one that's worth retelling throughout life - there is usually an edge to it. There are barriers overcome, there is a sketchy or frightening moment, there are lessons learned.""

Simple, routine summer pleasures contribute to a happy childhood but rarely become the vivid, retellable memories people reminisce about. Memorable experiences often belong to 'Type 2 fun,' moments that are uncomfortable or demanding in the moment yet rewarding in hindsight. These experiences push people past their limits and return them stronger, more grateful, and with stories worth retelling. Barriers overcome, sketchy or frightening moments, and lessons learned create enduring memories for children and adults. Intentionally seeking formative, challenging adventures can produce the kinds of stories that last a lifetime.

Read at Fatherly