Forgotten Fun

There are so many things we did without a second thought as children.  Then at some point along the process of growing up, we begin to think they are silly and we stop.

Like building a blanket or cardboard box fort, colouring with crayons, finger-painting, running through sprinklers or jumping on the bed.

I'm no psychologist by any means, so I won't go into the reasons we stop doing these things.  

But I will say that I think it odd that we stop.  Why not build a fort?  Why not roll down a grassy hill laughing the whole time?  Why not go get some finger paint and just get messy making art?  Because some other stuffy adult will call us strange or silly or childish?  

So what?  What is so wrong with doing things that used to give us such amazing joy?

I challenge you to go home tonight and build a blanket fort.  

Grab some sheets (they actually work better than blankets), get some of those office clamps (or duct tape - duct tape works for EVERYTHING) and attach the sheets to each other over your furniture.  Gather all the pillows in the house and make a comfy floor.  Attach a camping light inside in the corner somewhere.  

No Trespassing Poster

Now you are ready to get your crayons and a colouring book.  

And remember, you are having fun so if you don't want to colour inside the lines, then by-all-means, scribble the hell out of that thing!  Use all one colour, every colour in the box or outline the whole thing in RED.  

Let your imagination and your inner child run wild!  (yeah, yeah -- we all have one, so just drop the 'tude)

Put ten pigtails in your hair, (gender doesn't matter) hang a sign outside the fort that says "No Trespassing" and start singing "We're going on a bear hunt" as loud as you can!

Why?  Just because.  You don't need a reason why!

My brothers had the most amazing fort in their room when we were kids.  They shared the loft in our cabin and had sheets and blankets attached to the ceiling so you had to go through a maze to get to each of their areas.  It. Was. Epic!

You can also play what I called "Lava" when I was a kid.  I used to play it with my little sister, Jennifer when she was around the age of four.  She loved it!  We had hours of laughter with Lava.

Lava is played by moving all your furniture so you can easily get to it by stepping on it.  Yes.  You are going to walk on your couch.  Just pretend you didn't spend several hundred dollars on it and play Lava.  You won't regret it.  Grab several pillows and put them on the floor between each piece of furniture.

Now any part of floor is called Lava.  Don't step in it, or you "die".  Go ahead and put some music on (or just sing "We're going on a bear hunt" again) and run faster and faster until you step in Lava.  No, there is no winning this game.  You just play until you step in Lava.  Or you are out of breath.  Or you fall down.  Or you laugh too hard to keep running.  And if someone rings the doorbell (like say one of those religious people) make them come in and play Lava with you.  

And because they are likely one of those people who take life too seriously, they will think you are not just having a ball the way children do.  They will think you are crazy.  

So maybe.  Just maybe.  They will never come back again.

You're welcome!

Jess

How To Really Love a Child

How To Really Love a Child 

(with edits by me)

Be there. 

Say yes as often as possible. 

Let them bang on pots and pans.

If they’re crabby, put them in water. 

Let them play in the rain.

If they’re unlovable, love yourself. 

Realize how important it is to be a child. 

Go to a movie theatre in your pajamas. 

Read books out loud with joy. 

Invent pleasures together.

Remember how small they are. 

Giggle a lot.

Surprise them. 

Have a slumber party in the living room.

Say no when necessary. 

Teach that feelings are okay.

Express your own feelings.

Heal your own inner child. 

Learn about parenting. 

Hug trees together. 

Make loving safe.

Bake a cake and eat it with your hands. 

Search for faeries. Catch one.

Build a rocket ship out of a cardboard box.

Imagine yourself magic. 

Make lots of forts with blankets. 

Let your angel fly. 

Reveal your own dreams. 

Search out the positive. 

Keep the gleam in your eye. 

Mail handwritten letters to friends and family.

Encourage silly. 

Plant licorice in your garden.

Open up.

Stop yelling.

Express your love. A lot.

Speak kindly.

Paint their tennis shoes.

Handle with caring.

Hug often.

Play on the playground equipment with them.

Climb trees. Pretend you are monkeys.

Support their dreams.

Say "I love you". Every day.

Early Childhood Education and Mothering

I have a daughter (Elektra) who is going to be 15 months old tomorrow. I know someone who has a daughter 6 days older than Elektra.

I made a list of all the words Elektra can say today and she says 16 separate words (I think, I might be missing one or two). The other little girl can say over 75 separate words including naming and pointing to colors, shapes, facial features (nose, mouth) and even counting.

I was astounded to learn this. Not because I think my daughter is behind or even that the other little girl is advanced...just purely because I realized I don't work with Elektra on language as much as I did with my older children.

Why not? Honestly, I don't know. What will I be doing tonight? Sitting with her in her play yard working on the names of colors.

I talk to her constantly when I am doing things with her but I also have two other children at home that take some of my attention.

Tay is 13 and still talking to me (so far). She loves to be within 12 inches of me most of the time and will even still snuggle with me on the couch. I am trying to enjoy that while I can, but also teach her about respecting other people's space while at the same time trying not to hurt her feelings and make her think I don't want to be close to her. I hear that between 13 and 16 children begin to tune out their parents. She is doing that with my husband but not yet with me. *knocks on wood*
Tay didn't talk really early. She wasn't a late talker either; just "on time" I guess. She was a shy one when she was younger, but seems to have come out of her shell a bit. She is much more outgoing and very well liked by her peers.

Tristan is 7 and a very high maintenance child. He loves to be the center of attention and will do all kinds of things to keep your focus on him. He can be very sweet, very loving and very mild. But for the most part, he is jumping, loud and exuberant. My husband has him playing piano. He's amazing and plays beautifully. If we can keep him focused on the music, he will one day be a fantastic pianist.
Tristan did talk early. He also walked early at 7 months. And is a high achiever in school. Many of the kids like him but if he gets to be the center of attention too often, arguments ensue.

It can be very difficult to be a mother and every mother has challenges specific to her family. My challenges seem to stem from my kids being so far apart. Another mother might say her challenges stem from her kids being so close together.

It all depends on our personal experiences.

May all the mothers out there have at least a few minutes each day where you are proud of your mothering.

Blessings and Peace to all Mothers!