The best time of the year for Floridians to enjoy the beach is April/May and September/October. School isn’t out for most kids, and the sun isn’t at full bake mode. The water is temperate, so the kids can swim and play, and the afternoon rain showers aren’t as frequent.

My Facebook feed knows that I like the beach in May. Often my memories pop up revealing that on the same day last year or five years ago I was doing the same beach therapy. The shell collection, the footprints in the sand, the artsy sun through beach umbrella shots, and the worn out post-beach/post-McDonalds sleepers on the drive home are all constants. A marvelous Groundhog’s Day I would love to live weekly as opposed to monthly or even yearly.

My baby is growing up. She needs me less and less at the beach. She can walk from the car to the water’s edge. She can go potty on her own, preferring privacy in her own stall. She can play at the water’s edge without holding my hand or tugging at my swimsuit. She wants to spray the sunscreen herself, only letting me rub it in for even application. She even helps carry things back and forth to the car.

She takes her own babies to the beach now – burying them in the sand and pretending to teach them to swim.

With a sun-kissed golden glow on her little face, I see the future. She will be a beautiful sun goddess, full of life and love for the beach. Hopefully she will still want me with her on the May pilgrimage to the ocean.