In learning to live life as an adventure the first step is to care a little less what others might be thinking of you. This is why I can sing in the grocery store. Not just sing to myself... my family breaks out in song and if room allows, we are dancing down the aisle. We simply have fun.
When the other three children were asleep my oldest daughter got out of bed to give me a hug. She said I was the best mom. I asked why am I the best mom, and the answer she gave me wasn't what I was expecting. She explained it was because I took them to all the things they wanted to do. I made sure they had food and clean clothes, and I never got to have any fun because I was always taking care of them. Oh my, I was humbled but a bit heartbroken. She didn't think I had fun. Okay, I'm not the go out on the town type of girl, but I don't miss it. I don't date. That's just not where I am at this point in my life. I'm a mom, a daughter, a sister, a friend. I have so much love in my life that I don't consider myself missing anything. I am blessed. So I posed the question to her, "Hey, don't we have fun?" She laughed and said I'm sillier than any mom she knows. There... I'm fun, in my own way. Society has defined fun for her mind in that if I'm not out going and doing that I must be miserable. Hardly. I love my life. I love my friends! That's right, you know who you are. I love my family, and they get me. Fun... well, I'm just getting started. Life for me is defined by the smiles I feel.
So, the next time you see me and my fabulous four out and we're being loud and silly, know that my heart is full, my mind is free and my life is being lived completely!
The title of this blog is actually an idea for a book for fantastic family fun ideas. What's your idea of fun with your kids?
I Love the time we spend outdoors the most. The most fun we have is in our kayaks on small whitewater creeks. Our trips range from 7 to 9 miles of water, which makes for a long day of fun. Emotions change from the begining of the trip to the end and this can realy bring out what character is in our kids and ourselves. When we arrive at the river we're all excited and anticipating what the rapids may be like. Trying to mentally prepare and overcome the fear and intimidation this type fun has to offer. The next phase is ussually halfway through the trip when we can't wait to eat a can of Beenee-Weenee's and a PBJ sandwich. We always comment on how much better it taste when your starving after paddling so far. Then there's the winding down the last half of the day. Thats when character sets in. That is the part of the day when tempers are short and the Sun is hotter than ever. You can imagine what this character can be like. Finnaly the ride home with the quiet in the truck,the sound of the road and mp3 players that are probably too loud and an occasional snore. That is how we have fun all summer long and I wouldn't change a thing.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the smiles like you...I like wearing headphones and singing loud (know I can't carry a tune in a bucket). But I keep getting louder until I see them either sinng with me or laugh at me...or both!
ReplyDeleteI miss having all three of them home. They grow up so quickly!
I love it! There is something about being loud and silly with your kids! I always loved to dance, hop, skip, sing....just be free! And now that Josh is grown and in the Army....I have a school of great kids to play with! I get to be the "second mom" and I love to play...whether it's games, or pillow fights, balloon fights, food fights....(sounds like we fight a lot...ha ha!) or just skipping down the road, or singing songs with them that I don't even know the words to....I think it is all about being FREE... I think God loves to see us having fun like that too!
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