Last week’s post about playing outside sparked some conversations here. I realized that one of the things that makes me feel the worst about my parenting, is something we all struggle with. Quite honestly, not having kids that play sports or have a “thing” they “do”, makes me feel like a failure. I know that seems dramatic, but it’s true.
I realized something, though. It’s not about sports and trophies.
It’s about childhood.
It’s the giggles, the smiles, and the screams of joy and excitement.
It’s the running, chasing, and tagging.
It’s bare feet, mud on your face, and leaves in your hair.
It’s playing in the rain with your good clothes on.
It’s sand between your toes and sun on your cheeks.
It’s not about being at the soccer field at 8am, it’s about playing one more round of hide-and-go-seek in the dark when we should really be getting ready for bed.
Last night I tapped into my inner child and it felt good! I forgot how exciting a simple game of hide-and-go-seek can be. I forgot what it felt like to play!
The anticipation of my son and husband finding my secret spot made my heart beat fast and put a smile on my face.
I realized that in order to teach my kids to play, I need to remember how to do it again.
I need to put the laptop down and go outside. I need to push the worries away for just 5 minutes and be silly. I need to close the books and take off my teacher hat. I need to slow down.
In this age of technology, we have all forgotten how to play.
I need to find my inner child, so my boys don’t loose theirs.
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Twitter: AlisonSWLee
says:
Yes, this!
I huddled in child-sized tent today. Just to make the toddler laugh. It was fun!
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Pics? Love that you are enjoying those little ones!
I had forgotten how to play too and I let the computer be the excuse I needed to not play. I went from working full time to filling my time up with things that I thought would be better for my heart and still give me the feeling of working. I messed up though and I continued to let myself miss out on things. Now, I unplug a lot more and play a lot more. It has been a win win for us!
Enjoy your inner child!
Kristen recently posted..Shopping With A Tween
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Yes, I love to write/blog but I’m beginning to see how easy it is to fall prey to trying to do it all, and then all of a sudden the fun is gone.
Twitter: AccidentalDesig
says:
Good Gravy, Girl. I was born old. I have this struggle all the time.
Maggie S. recently posted..Is ‘Looking For a Hobby’ the Right Hobby for Me?
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Bahaha!!! I hear ya!
Twitter: kimahall
says:
Wheeeeeee!
Play is one of the reasons I volunteer in our church nursery, and with our teens. It’s the ever present opportunity to take myself very lightly and be acceptably silly. ;-D
So glad you are taking time to play!
Kim recently posted..Gratitude for body slams, injured knees and crutches
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Oh! I love the nursery! I have a feeling that you are a ton a fun!
Twitter: mominconsistent
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I am soooo in agreement with this! And I totally get what you’re saying about the heart pounding and even the heavy breath when you’re hiding from your kid…SO FUN!! This summer I actually didn’t put my kids in anything…it was all spontaneous, bare feet, go-where-the-wind-takes-us FUN! Now I think I’ll unplug and go for a bike ride! Thanks for the reminder!!
Jill @ MommyInconsistent recently posted..One Thing I Won’t Miss About Summer…
Twitter: themommymess
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I want to embrace this season where they’re still unsure of what they like. That gives me some more time to have fun with them!
Twitter: thehilljean
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You are so right! I played tag with my kids the other day and surprised myself with how fun it was to be chased and to pop out at my little ones. This would make for a nice blog series…hint hint.
By the way, just got my sarong in the mail yesterday and I love it! I might have used it in a way that was unintended…you’ll have to stop by mine and see what I did. Don’t tell Sassy Sarongs on me!
hilljean recently posted..Wordful Wednesday: What I Did Before I Went To Bed
Twitter: themommymess
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I was thinking about a series too! You read me mind.
Oh, girl. I can only imagine what you’ve done with that sarong!
Twitter: fiercedivablog
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TRUTH, lady! It seems that every spare moment of mine is at the laptop – which is part of why that “punishment” day at the park was such a special moment for me – we were all playing!
ilene recently posted..How Not to Hold a Grudge
Twitter: themommymess
says:
I know! It should be the other way around. We’ve got it all wrong. We should be playing more and working less. Haha!
Sometimes we go out and play ball as a family, and we all have so much fun. My husband and I always say we should do it more often, and then we get busy and don’t do it. I think we need to make that kind of family time more of a priority.
Patricia P recently posted..Dog Talk
Twitter: themommymess
says:
I totally agree! I want to make it a goal.
Adrienne recently posted..My Inner Child
So true- all the technology can make it easy to just sit!
Shell recently posted..Pour Your Heart Out: A Kind Word
Twitter: themommymess
says:
I know! We’re all going to be like the people on Wall-e! “buy and large-we’re your very best friend”
Twitter: chamoionsmommy
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“It’s the giggles, the smiles, and the screams of joy and excitement”. I love this! I’m working on remembering this is what is important and remembering beyond anything my son is a child and needs a Mom to help him discover the joys of childhood. Thanks for inspiring me to continue work on tapping into my inner childhood!
Champion’s Mommy recently posted..And So We Just Swam
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Thanks!
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
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Yes, this. Absolutely this. It was so easy for me to fall into a trap behind the screen and I saw that my boys were losing their childhood because of it. I have since stepped away from that and learned to just play. And I feel so much better from it!
Kimberly recently posted..Essence Of Now
Twitter: themommymess
says:
It is a trap, Kimberly. We have to be so careful. It helps when I tlel my boys that some of this madness actually makes me money. They are happy to let me “work” if they get a kick-back. LOL
Adrienne recently posted..What to Expect: Cooking with Kids
Yes to all of this! I do need to just stop and pause and close the computer and play. I’ve completely forgotten how but I love it when I do. Thanks for reminding me.
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..Friday Round-up: Priorities, Family, and Boobies
Twitter: themommymess
says:
I think we should make conscious effort to have the computer closed/off at certain points throughout the day.
Adrienne recently posted..What to Expect: Cooking with Kids
You are so right. Sometimes i have to remind myself to step away from what I want to do and embrace what my son wants to do.
Julia recently posted..The One
Twitter: themommymess
says:
It’s hard to do, isn’t it? It shouldn’t be like that. I’m guilty of doing the same, and I’m trying to change it.
Adrienne recently posted..What to Expect: Cooking with Kids
Good post! So true! My little guys are too small for organized sports right now. I would like for them to find one they enjoy but not necessarily have to be a superstar. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how many trophies you have! Visiting from SITS sharefest.
Michelle recently posted..Shake Your Money Maker
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Thanks for visiting! Exactly! It’s not about the trophies.
Adrienne recently posted..What to Expect: Cooking with Kids