On Friday, I picked up Clay from school and took him and Brooklyn to the park for a little picnic. I had stacks of work on my desk. I had dirty bathrooms, filthy windows, piles of laundry, and unmade beds at home, but I didn't care. Wait, that's not quite true. I cared. I cared and the insane part of me was up to my eyeballs in guilt for letting it go. But the logical part of me knew the work would still be there later. The work will always be there, in fact. But my little ones won't always want to go to the park for a picnic with me. It was beautiful, warm, sunny, and breezy - a perfect day for an impromptu picnic and a little playtime outside.
Put aside the work and chores one day this week and surprise your kids with a picnic!
They'll thank you.
25 comments:
That picture of Brooklyn giving you a "flower bouquet" is precious! You are right, the work is always waiting. Enjoy your kids all you can! Remember, you are raising children and growing memories!
I remember all too well when my kids were little how many times I would gripe about going to the park - again - but you are so right. You blink and suddenly they are teenagers who want nothing from you (other than money and free rides to the mall/theater/friends house). Good for you for putting aside the work and enjoying your kids.
And the photo of Clay jumping off the swing? I love it!!
I took my younger siblings out to park about a week ago and we had a picnic, swing time, went out to McDonald's for ice-cream, and then played tag for hours. It was a great day, even if I was tired, sweaty, and hungry at the end of the day. (Hey, let me tell you, having four people trying to tag you really makes you run fast, and that is tiring!)LOL. Nonetheless, I loved it. Those times are priceless.
I'm sure you want to hear this, but I had a dream I met you last night. I came to your house and hung out for a while. There were only two kids there for a while, Clay and Brooklyn. Super cute! I think you were trying to get rid of me, but I just wanted to hang around you and ask you a bunch of questions, which I didn't get to do because I woke up :( Maybe next time! Thanks for your blog, It makes my day!
The kids will remember special moments like this a lot longer than remembering if the bathrooms were clean or not. Good for you! That's a great reminder to all of us moms. Live in the moment, not in regret.
The pics are great! You never cease to amaze me Dawn. You're such a great Mom.
Who says mother's day is only one day a year? I have a plaque from Kohl's that I love. It says " While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about".
You're such a great Mom...love the pics...esp. Brooklyn's bouquet :)
Boy, do I miss those dandelion bouquets!!! You win the Mom of the Year Award again!! :o)
Donna in PA :)
And that, dear Dawn, is why you are an awesome mom.
-Beth in MI
You are the best Dawn !
Happy Mother's Day ahead of time.
Love all the pictures and I hope you are making a scrap book.
Hugs, Donna from NE Indiana
Good choice, prioritize life, and enjoy it while you can. Worry later, none of that is really that important anyway.
I feel sad when I see other parents care more about how clean their house is, how proper their kids should behave, or trying to get the kids to grow up faster, and lose sight of enjoying childhood, and next thing you the time passed.
Those memories are precious for sure. I remember when we moved in the middle of the summer to our new place. It took us 2 months to pack and unpack. I realized in between packing that I need to make time for my 5 children. So I would pack one day and the next day off with my kiddies and then pack the next day. I think we built a lot of memories that summer.
Love, love, love the pictures, especially Clay in mid-air. (I would have tried ten times to get it and always gotten the kid before they launched or after they landed!) What fun memories for all of you. I think this may convince me to take the kids to the duckpond tomorrow to check for ducklings before homework!
Nothing is forever except the memories, make them good ones!
You are such a great mom!! Your children are very lucky to have you!!
Sweet! What a great idea.
Thanks, I think we all need to be reminded of this sometimes.
Great reminder, there will always be piles of dirty dishes and laundry and taking time to spend with the kids is the greatest thing you can do!
Amen, sister!!!
Wise words indeed.
Good for you for allowing yourself to do that. They do grow up too fast...
Dawn you are so right and I love this post because I am living it this entire week. I am on vacation and everyday this week I am doing something just for the kids. today I went and had lunch with my 1st grader. She was beaming when she saw me walk into the lunch room with subway and her younger sister. Tomorrow is lunch with their older brother before he is too cool to have lunch with Mom at school. thanks for this awesome post!!!
Tracei from Huntley
The housework will always be there. The kids will grow up in the blink of an eye. You can worry about the cleaning then..
What a great Mom you are. My child is grown with three grandsons and one on the way...She grew up so fast. Enjoy them now so you can enjoy them when the are grown too. Too many parents are too busy these days to make time for just "play" with the kids. Their lives are all so "arranged" -being flexible and playing is so important for all of you! My daughter is also a wonderful Mom. She plays with her boys and is terrific with them. God Bless and Happy Mothers Day!
Dang, I wish my mom thought like you! I don't think I've ever even been on a picnic...
About the last picture: that's one of the reasons I love to be a mom -- you always get to have a bunch of fresh flowers in the house, ;-).
So long,
Corinna
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