A "Too Strong!" Summer

Speaking of summer...
Yes, Calpis!

When I was a child,
whenever I went to my relatives' house,
they would often serve me Calpis.

Putting in ice, adding the Calpis,
and then adding water.

We didn't have anything fancy like a muddler,
so we would stir it with a spoon.

The cool clinking sound still rings in my ears.

And then there were the times I made it too strong
and was told, "That's too strong!" (laughs).

These are also precious memories of precious times.

I've grown up since then,
and now I have two children of my own.

I feel the passage of time when I think
that my own children
probably aren't very familiar
with the type of Calpis you have to dilute.

When my children were smaller,
they once made and drank Calpis
at a relative's house just like I did.

I remember them saying "It's too strong!" back then too (laughs).

But now,
they are completely captivated
by the Calpis you can drink straight from a plastic bottle.

Especially since my eldest son didn't like fruit-based juices,
he was always drinking Calpis.

And now that my eldest son is in junior high,
before I knew it,
he switched from Calpis Water to Calpis Soda.

I can really feel him growing up.

I remember when he was surprised
at a drink bar
thinking it was non-carbonated Calpis,
only to find out it was Calpis Soda.

Back then, he couldn't drink carbonated drinks at all.

I drank this with that person back then.
That child loved that drink.

The very fact that we can remember things like that
might be a very precious time in itself.

Looking back on the past like this,
remembering my children when they were small,
I feel a growing sense of endearment.

Ah, I remember when they were that small.

Back then, I was so focused on raising them,
I don't think I had much room
to just think, "How cute."

I was doing my best to manage housework and childcare,
and on top of that, I put strange pressure on myself
to "raise them properly."
I was truly overwhelmed.

Perhaps it's only now, looking back like this,
that I can cherish that time.

Since I've been reminded of summer Calpis,
I think I'll make some
dilutable Calpis at home with everyone for the first time in a while.

Even if it's too concentrated, I won't complain,
and I'll keep it as a new, precious memory.