Whilst Sitting Outside

Have you ever noticed whilst sitting outside in the quiet, all by your lonesome, you really tend to unwind and relax? Then, your mind starts to wander on all the things you have going on in your life. You think about things you have going on, things you want to do and things you think you never have time for and want to try and fit in... more time with family, more relaxation and for me... more memories to be made.

I have shifted my priorities around this summer to make sure my priorities line up with having children. During the fall and spring I am in school full time so my priorities are much different during that time so this summer I did not take any classes and am making sure that my girls are able to be kids, make memories, spend time with mommy and daddy and just be little! It really sunk in when I was reading something on the wall at my oldest daughter's preschool. They have a poster on the wall where the teacher wrote down how each of them said they went to sleep each night. Some of them made me sad when I read them... I just go to bed and cover myself up, I watch TV and be quiet and then I go to sleep. NONE of them said anything about the parents. Except for our little girl's, "I lay down and get my animals and mommy and daddy reads me a book." None of the other ones said anything about reading books, or the parents being involved. It really made me think... do parents really understand what is important to their children? Are they allowing them to be kids? Are they making lasting memories so their kids will remember them being there? Most of the ones I read made me think that the parents were selfish.

My kids may not remember exactly what we did each night or the small details, but they will remember that we were always there and took time out with them. They will feel they were loved and important. What's that saying... kids may not remember what you said but they will remember how you made them feel. I want them to remember feeling loved.

This summer I haven't been so strict on making sure the house is perfectly clean. Mind you, everything is picked up and neat, but just don't look too close at my baseboards! Since my in laws bought a beach house this summer I have been trying to make sure we spend plenty of time out here. Playing on the beach, building castles, floating in the pool, finding shells and doing things they will remember. I want to make sure they know they were the #1 priority in our lives. Now, I just have to be better at documenting it through pictures!

I've even found some free/cheap things to do this summer to fill in the gaps when we're at home or during the week. Sometimes it's OK to stay out late because there was a movie in the park or an outside festival going on so we've been doing those things too. I found a park near the house that has movies outside all summer long. The admission is $3 for anyone over 12 so the girls are free. We just went to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs two weeks ago and they had a ball. There is nothing better than seeing the smile on your child's face and seeing the pure joy in their eyes at doing something they enjoy. Make time for that. I am.

Yes, I spend time doing coupons, searching for bargains and occasionally a pedicure or something for me. But I will never sacrifice my child's happiness for any of that... you can't bottle it, you can't buy it... you have to seek it out. Think of every day as a treasure hunt seeking out the grand prize... their smile. Sometimes it's as easy as pulling them around the floor on a blanket or having a carpet picnic for dinner in the living room. Small things make the biggest difference in who they turn out to be, how they look at you and the kind of parents they will strive to be one day.

What kind of parent do you want them to be to your grandchildren? Sometimes you don't take the time to look twenty or twenty-five years down the road so take today and make it a treasure hunt for their smile. I am.