Celebrate Summer: Stargazing
by Jennifer Cooper, posted on July 9th, 2010 in Ideas and Inspiration
When I was a kid, my dad had a telescope. It was white and took up residence on the balcony porch off my parent’s bedroom. Sometimes he’d move it out to our backyard if Mars was in the right location or there was a comet coming our way. One thing you could always rely on, no matter its location, it always pointed to the heavens.
I think I mentioned before that my dad is sort of an astronomy enthusiast. If you came to my house for a visit, you’d find no shortage of astronomy magazines, slides containing images of planets, books about constellations, and the like.
My dad loved to share his passion with us. Even if we weren’t always as, er, enthusiastic as he probably would have liked. When birthdays or Christmas rolled around, my brothers, sister and I would unwrap packages containing lights that cast constellations on the ceiling, glow in the dark star stickers, and static cling planets to hang on our windows. There were many family trips to planetariums and late nights spent in the backyard watching meteor showers.
Fast forward some years. I’m 20 years old and traveling across Arizona. It’s my first trip out west (born and bred East Coaster here). That first night as we drove through desert, I looked out the window and gasped. I had never seen so many stars before. They filled the sky. I couldn’t believe it. No wonder the stars had captured the imagination of people since the beginning of time. I mean have you seen them?! Incredible. Breathtaking. They make you feel so…small.
It was a moment of magic.
I’ve tried to share the love of the cosmos with my kids. I’ve pointed out Venus (it’s the bright one) and taught them how to spot Mars (it has a red hue). We’ve talked about Orion’s belt and the Big Dipper.
Now if my attempts to inspire the kids haven’t taken, I know my dad’s certainly have. At night, when I go to peek in on the kids, I find them snuggled in one of the beds together, flipping through the book about stars Peepaw gave them. I take a moment, then tell them it’s time for lights out.
But before I leave, I draw up the shades so they can see the stars.
Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight.
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have this wish, I wish tonight.
This weekend take your kids out to gaze at the stars. Make up your own stories about the heavens above. Or make it educational and grab a book to take out with you. Whatever you do, enjoy the magic and be sure to make a wish of your own.
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Tags: childhood, Parenting, summer fun
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