Beach Mama And My Nuki Nuki - Summer Vacation - M...

But I had other plans. My secret weapon was Nuki Nuki—my worn-out stuffed sea otter. His fur was matted, one eye was a loose button, and he smelled faintly of old saltwater taffy. Mom wanted to leave him home. "He's a hygiene hazard," she said. I smuggled him in my beach bag.

So we rebelled.

I hugged the otter tighter. "Maybe."

"Just for safe keeping," she said.

She sighed, then reached over and gave Nuki Nuki’s loose button-eye a little twist. "Okay, Nuki Nuki," she whispered. "Show me what you’ve got." Beach Mama and My Nuki Nuki Summer Vacation - M...

The next morning, Beach Mama left her whistle in the condo. We ate ice cream for breakfast, built a lopsided sand volcano, and let the sunscreen wear off naturally. Nuki Nuki sat between us, watching the sun melt into the sea.

That evening, Mom sat down next to me on the sand. She didn't blow her whistle. She didn't check the schedule. She just looked at the waves. But I had other plans

The summer I turned twelve, my mom declared herself "Beach Mama." She bought a neon-yellow sunhat, a matching flip-flop mat, and a whistle she wore around her neck like a lifeguard. Her mission: to make this the most organized, fun-filled, sand-free vacation ever.