FLM
Fete Lifestyle Magazine
My summertime memories as a young boy growing up in an Ohio Midwest town is vastly different than what my kids are experiencing growing up in Chicago. In my small town my friends and I only knew what we knew. We’d get up in the mornings, do our chores and then play all day. We would either meet at the school close to our house or get on our bikes and venture across town to another neighborhood. On every other block lived someone we knew; either a relative, member of our church, or someone close to our family. Our parents never worried about whether or not we were safe, because everyone knew everyone. The only time we went home was to eat or to get a different ball for a game we were about to play. The summers were hot, long, and fun. My mom would often make a pitcher of sun tea and then sweeten it with way more sugar than we needed to consume. My dad would fire up his homemade grill in the backyard using charcoal, because gas grills didn’t exist back then. Although it would take a while for the coals to get hot enough to cook the burgers, steaks, ribs and chicken, the payoff was more than worth it. Thinking back on those dog days of summer makes me smile, but I’m enjoying creating new fun memories with my own family.
Living in the third largest U.S. city affords my two young boys with more access to other things I simply wasn’t exposed to growing up. Although I went to a local day camp and football camp back in the day, the number of camps that exist now are amazing. Sleep away camp for me was spending the night at one of my cousins’ houses, which was always a fun time, but nothing like what my kids experience at their camp. As a family, we try to drive up to Lake Geneva, WI every summer to get away from the hustle and bustle, which allows the boys to experience a more relaxed summer vibe. Bike rides along the lake, baseball in the park, and swimming in the pool are all a part of building their summertime memories.
The season of sun means something different for everyone, and our FLM July “summer” issue reflects that. You will discover great tips and valuable resources on beauty, health, fun, travel, and entertainment. I hope your summer is filled with more fun than you can deal with and you continue to build unforgettable summertime memories. Enjoy FLM July!
D.C.
Publisher's Note