It is for me. I can't believe we're in the last week of June. Soon we will have to start thinking about school supplies, school clothes, preschool for our youngest. Time seems to be moving exponentially. It seems like yesterday we were getting ready for Kindergarten. We're way past that now.
Unlike past summers, when I tried to squeeze in too much work and treated play time like it was a chore, I'm making a conscious decision to do fun things with my kids. Even if it's just a trip to the park or an hour at the pool. We're spending more dedicated time with friends. Finding opportunities to explore a city I've called home for almost 3/4 of my life. Discovering that carry-out pizza and watermelon can be just as fun as an elaborately-planned dinner. Letting blessings we would normally take for granted linger in our hearts and minds.
I don't think that unplugging from the TV resulted in all of this, but I do feel it was at least a catalyst. There is something encouraging about my youngest wanting to read a book with me. She snuggles in close. We giggle when I change the words to one of her favorites that she's memorized. She likes to stop me and spell some of the words, now.
My oldest is hounding me to go to the library because she doesn't have a book to read. Trust me - that wasn't happening last year. She would want to go to the library, but was speeding through her mandatory reading time to get back to the next TV show. She's developed a liking for mysteries (like her aunt), and she was thrilled to accompany a neighbor to the dog park the other day. When I was her age, we lived in an area that didn't have decent TV reception, and it was before cable and satellite were widespread options. She is experiencing (sort of) a summer like I used to have. A bit less complicated than the world makes it now. And she's gotten to enjoy a week of art camp. Tonight we will go to the finale so that she can proudly show us her accomplishments. I can't wait.
If you haven't done it yet, I encourage you to plan a couple of activities with the intention of creating memories. It doesn't have to be an elaborate vacation or the "perfect" picnic. Just grab your kids and head for the closest park. Or find a local festival this weekend. Or fire up the grill to make... s'mores. Just. Do. Something.
Time goes by too quickly.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
I Gave In...
OK, it's not as bad as you think.
I let my girls watch a movie.
We were at a friend's house yesterday for Father's Day. Most of the day was spent with family: church, hanging out at the pool, and a very casual, kid-friendly dinner at my friend's house. The kids were worn out from hours of playing, but the grown-ups weren't quite ready to call it a night.
So we turned on a movie. And I don't feel guilty at all.
It's been close to a month since the TV has taken center stage in our home (and our life in some ways). Like many things, moderation is the key, right? The movie was entertaining for the kids and the grown-ups (I confess, we watched a good part of it with the kids). The funny thing was, my 3-year-old had little interest in the movie and instead chose to keep playing with toys in another part of the room for quite a bit of it (when she wasn't curled up in my lap).
Am I planning to relax my rules about the TV at home? Not likely. The atmosphere in our home is different, and I like it that way. Will we watch an occasional show or movie as a family? Yes, at some point. I hesitate to plan on anything too "regular" at this point. I don't want my family to start structuring plans around whether or not it's "movie night" or something like that. I'm enjoying investing my time into people - real people with real stories and real friendship to offer. Both kids are old enough that we can go to the pool as a family. And we will probably hit the theater some time in the next couple of weeks to see our first movie as a whole family. That's what I want my kids to remember. Time as a family.
I wanted to create some memories for my children this summer. And I think my husband and I are well on our way to doing that.
I let my girls watch a movie.
We were at a friend's house yesterday for Father's Day. Most of the day was spent with family: church, hanging out at the pool, and a very casual, kid-friendly dinner at my friend's house. The kids were worn out from hours of playing, but the grown-ups weren't quite ready to call it a night.
So we turned on a movie. And I don't feel guilty at all.
It's been close to a month since the TV has taken center stage in our home (and our life in some ways). Like many things, moderation is the key, right? The movie was entertaining for the kids and the grown-ups (I confess, we watched a good part of it with the kids). The funny thing was, my 3-year-old had little interest in the movie and instead chose to keep playing with toys in another part of the room for quite a bit of it (when she wasn't curled up in my lap).
Am I planning to relax my rules about the TV at home? Not likely. The atmosphere in our home is different, and I like it that way. Will we watch an occasional show or movie as a family? Yes, at some point. I hesitate to plan on anything too "regular" at this point. I don't want my family to start structuring plans around whether or not it's "movie night" or something like that. I'm enjoying investing my time into people - real people with real stories and real friendship to offer. Both kids are old enough that we can go to the pool as a family. And we will probably hit the theater some time in the next couple of weeks to see our first movie as a whole family. That's what I want my kids to remember. Time as a family.
I wanted to create some memories for my children this summer. And I think my husband and I are well on our way to doing that.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
What's Growing in Your Garden?
Yes, you read the title correctly, and it isn't a metaphor. I'm taking a break from our "unplugged" updates because I found some fun stuff growing in my garden this morning. I have several gardens around my house, most of which are flower gardens. I also have a strawberry patch, vegetable garden, and raised-bed perennial herb garden. It took me over an hour to thin the mint in the herb garden a couple of weeks ago. The effort was worth it since I had room to plant oregano and rosemary.
The interesting thing that I found this morning was in one of my front flower beds. I planted celosia in one of the beds a few years ago. Since I was pregnant and couldn't work the ground that much, the plants went to seed at the end of the year. The flowers that came back the following year were dense and beautiful, so I just continued the practice. It takes a little longer than buying starter plants at the store, but they are free and look great. Worth an extra couple of weeks. But that isn't what I found.
I found basil! At first I was surprised, but then remembered transplanting a tired-looking plant last summer. It grew to a 2-foot diameter bush. Lots of pesto and fresh basil in many dishes, plus a bunch of happy friends. I guess it went to seed, too, because there are about 10 basil seedlings randomly placed in the garden. I'm going to let them grow. Basil is one of those herbs that smells of summer and is always welcome. I'll harvest as much as I can and put it to good use.
Did you find anything interesting today?
Barb
The interesting thing that I found this morning was in one of my front flower beds. I planted celosia in one of the beds a few years ago. Since I was pregnant and couldn't work the ground that much, the plants went to seed at the end of the year. The flowers that came back the following year were dense and beautiful, so I just continued the practice. It takes a little longer than buying starter plants at the store, but they are free and look great. Worth an extra couple of weeks. But that isn't what I found.
I found basil! At first I was surprised, but then remembered transplanting a tired-looking plant last summer. It grew to a 2-foot diameter bush. Lots of pesto and fresh basil in many dishes, plus a bunch of happy friends. I guess it went to seed, too, because there are about 10 basil seedlings randomly placed in the garden. I'm going to let them grow. Basil is one of those herbs that smells of summer and is always welcome. I'll harvest as much as I can and put it to good use.
Did you find anything interesting today?
Barb
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