A few years ago my brother and sister-in-law asked me if I would take care of the kids for a week.  I was thrilled to do it.   They live in the mid-west and I live on the east coast so I don’t get to see them all the time. It was summer time and I didn’t have any plans for vacation so off I went for a week of fun with my nephew and nieces!

As any aunt or uncle will tell you, one of the great things is that you get to spoil the kids and have fun.  You take them to movies or shows you would not normally go to see, you let them stay up late, you let them eat junk food for dinner one night; and basically try to make happy childhood memories for them.  In general, my goal is to be a “Cool Aunt.”

One day I thought it would be fun to take them miniature golfing.  It was a warm beautiful sunny day. Now, it did cross my mind that maybe, just maybe, one of them might catch the “golfing bug.”  After all, who doesn’t get a thrill putting a ball through windmill blades.

After about an hour it was clear they were not enjoying miniature golf. They kept saying it’s too hot. It might have been a bit warm out but I was teasing them and saying they were a bunch of sissies.  Somewhere along the way I ended up playing alone while they were all sprawled out on the lawn under a big tree.  At least the next activity — going for ice cream — was a big hit.

To this day they lovingly tease me about that horrible trip to play miniature golf in 103 degree heat and how only a crazy person (me) would play in that heat.  Now they may be exaggerating the exact temperature that day but I must admit it was really hot (yes, close to 100).

None of them play golf but at least I did achieve one goal that day — a childhood memory that makes them laugh.