When my children started to wear on my last nerve, at around 8:15am this morning. (Hey, cut me some mom-slack, I am far from perfect). I told them they had to spend the day outside. Our weather isn't too bad yet, it is around 47 degrees and the 'big' storm had not arrived. I knew that I had a small window of 'outside' opportunity before we are cooped up for days inside our home. Pulling them away from their TV show and my teenager from downloading music onto her ipod...you would have thought that I had asked the kids to go build a small city or to find a cure for some terminal illness. Their groans and moans pained even me. They were back in the house less than twenty minutes later telling me they were bored. When our children complain to us that they are bored, we reply by telling them, "You are bored because you are boring."
Our children have a beautiful home, a basketball hoop, a jungle gym and fort, their own bonus room and a pool in the summer. They don't get much compassion from their dad and I.
It got me to thinking about how little my children do spend outside. Compared to their generation, they are outside quite a bit. Compared to my generation, not much at all. Later in the day, I ended up driving my youngest three to the school playground where they could ride their bicycles and scooters, and climb the jungle gym. Their groans and moans gone, they laughed and chased each other on the blacktop. My daughter Grace came over to where I was sitting and reading. I could see her walking over to me and I tried to envision an invisible force field that would redirect her to where the other children were all playing. With her soccer ball in hand she asked, "Mom, do you want to play soccer with me?" I had to hide the hidden moan I felt rising in my own throat, "Sure honey." I smiled, as I put down my book and tried to grab the ball out of her hands.
Fake it till you make it.
I told you...I am far from perfect.
**The picture above is of my children reading my blog post a few weeks ago for Meghan's birthday. This is pretty much what my mornings look like when I want a moment to myself.**
6 comments:
I hear ya. I had to kick my kids outside the other day. I was tempted to lock the door so they had to stay out there for at least 1/2 hour.
There was a song out this summer called A Different Life. The singer was an Idol loser (Bucky Covington), but the song was about how different things are then/now. Anyway, your post reminded me of that song
Joanne- I love that this is your topic today. It was the topic of an email to a good friend of mine yesterday so I'm copying part of her response... It fits right in.
"Now to address the cabin fever..... Honey if you have it now, you are a gonner! Winter has just begun and you have until March 21st!!!! You must pace yourself. Get to the library with the kids...
Good luck. Bake cookies. Stuff them into their snow suits and throw them out in the back yard. Let them play until they are really cold. Feed them hot soup, grilled cheese sandwiches. They will get tired. They will nap. YOU WILL BE FREE FOR 2 HOURS.!!!"
Boy O Boy... are all mom's thinking alike right now or what???
Love you girl. Hang in there.
I was talking to my sister about this the other day. We used to be outside all the time. I was lucky enough to grow up on a farm and had lots of room to roam.
Good luck today! All the Mom's that read this know what you are going through!
I had to blink twice to make sure I didn't write this post!
I love the saying about being bored. That gave me such a laugh. I can't wait to use it with my girls! Thanks.
We are a very indoorsy type these days, aren't we? Good for you for pushing them out of that 'comfort zone' though! I bet they had an awesome day out there and those are the moments they remember most.
"Fake it 'till you make it." My pastor has said that on more than one occasion and I cannot tell you how many times that little saying has helped me!! Love it.
~Jessica
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