Thursday, March 1, 2012

Technology.....or lack thereof



In our technology driven world today I want my children to see the importance of turning everything off for awhile and letting those creative juices flow. Sometimes when the TV, computer, and video games go off, I hear "I'm bored. There's nothing to do." But most of the time they trickle outside, play with legos, set up imaginary tea parties, bake goodies, read, or sit down to draw colorful pictures or comic strips. I need to follow suit myself sometimes. I just have a hard time saying no to the laundry...and the broom....and the mop. I did however, dust my pastels off a few weeks ago. So the next time I see my budding artists sitting at the kitchen table, I think I will join them.



A few years back we did no television for a month. And it was fantabulous. So why haven't I done it since? Hmmmm. Good question. I think we might have to revisit that challenge again this summer. And now I'm off to read my book. Which by the way, is NON-electronic. I actually get to thumb through the pages and smell them. Yep. I like to smell books.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Seasons



My mom found this picture a while ago and sent it to me. There is something about it that I just love. They say there are different seasons in life. Well I say there are seasons within seasons. I am obviously in the season of motherhood. But this picture brings back memories and feelings of a different season of motherhood than the one I'm in now. Back then I had 3 children, 4 years and under. Mothering was physically exhausting with 2 in diapers and a two year old who had frequent meltdowns. But I also got lots of hugs and slobbery kisses and as you can see I was a human jungle gym. Today, these three take more of my emotional energy with the squabbling and constant discipline and dealing with deeper issues as they get older. I am loving things about this current season also though. The deeper conversations, the growth of them and also me as a mother. Looking at this photo reminds me that I need to stop and enjoy each season even through the new challenges we face. And daily remind myself that as with anything in life, this time with them right now will change and pass and I will miss it and miss them at these ages. I want to grab this photo and hold on as tightly as I can to this memory and never let go.