Why Raising Your Kids by the Beach May be the Best Gift You Could Give Them

I was raised on the beachside resort town of Hurghada (Egypt). I consider myself lucky in many ways, especially when watching the kids of today and how they are cooped up in their city apartment, Nintendo-addicted lives where a ball seems to be a foreign object and they are petrified of everything from a dog to the sea.

Although I don’t have kids and I can’t imagine the responsibility of having to entertain another human being for that many hours a day, looking back, I don’t think my parents faced the same turmoil. I remember being much more independent, exploring my surroundings and what was then much more virgin beaches, where turtles used to lay their eggs, crabs were our thrill and life was simple.

After recently spending a weekend at my childhood home, I decided to put together an ode as to why living by the beach may be the best spoon of medicine you could give yourself as well as your kin.

There is nothing like babies at the beach… Kids, enjoy the couple years of open nudity you get before your mama or papa dress you in the outfits that will be used against you as the best blackmail for the rest of your life.

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Then there are the ridiculous outfits that are so cute you want to die. Ever get that feeling of grabbing someone else’s kid and running? Yup, those beach outfits will pull that kind of crazy out of you… (No, I am not a kidnapper and don’t pretend like you have never had that thought.)

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Because it’s all you know, you grow a special love for nature. Fear of creatures is not in your vocab.

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These are your after school activities that tend to develop into your hobbies that you will travel far and wide for…

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And this is your view…

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Your backyard gives you more impressive versions of itself on a daily basis, providing phenomenal images… and yes I am talking #nofilter!

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Your skin tone is “tanned”

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And summer love is season-less…

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This is a foreign sight to you…

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As you grow you will be exposed to some of the craziest nights as well as the zennest moments of your life.

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Ommm…

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And if you are lucky enough to spend a lifetime by the sea and find the one that makes you whole. I can imagine it would look a little bit like this…

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WE SAID THIS: Keep It Simple, You Only Live Once…