Quality Family Time

In today's society we are often surrounded by technology, sometimes overwhelmed by it. With cable t.v., the Internet, traveling game systems and high tech cellphones it can be so easy to disconnect from our family, too far and few in between is the quality time that families are spending with each other. My family is no exception, we have been guilty of this, why? because it is just so easy to sit around on our butt's.

Plain n' simple.

Recently we decided to turn off the t.v. (at least for a few hours) and head to the local state park. Oh what fun! the kids brought their swim suits and as soon as we found a great spot overlooking the lake, with a table and grill, they jumped in. I'm so happy that they enjoy and are comfortable in the natural surroundings.

It was so nice outside, the sounds of the boats riding by and happy children. Hubby and I got to talk (I know right?!real one on one convo!). I brought a book and just fell in love with life all over again. How could I not? When sitting amongst the beauty of creation with the ones you love, it just happens.

I just hope we continue to remember what we love the most ,which is not the technology we are swamped with, but the quality time spent being active outside with each other. The best part of it all is that it costs little to nothing to do it. You can't beat that in these hard economic times.

My hubby and I even decided that we were going to implement a NO T.V. week, every month...ahem! yep! you read me right....NO T.V. for one whole week. Sounds drastic? Well sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do. We will get outdoors, finish up projects, and play board games ( which BTW, we love) . If you like board games too and want something new to add to your quality family time, go to this website ; www.boardgames.com for suggestions to get you started.

The weather is great and you have your love ones around you....you gotta get up, get out and do somethin'.

Getting Lost is okay

Have you ever started off on one track only to end up on another? With a particular plan to do something but then some other force moves you to do something else?

Yeah, well that's what happened today. I started off going to the store to get some hair products, cause, you know, a sistah's locs are beginning to look less than fabulous. So anyway, off I go on my journey but then it was such a nice Georgia day, and my kiddies were off with their daddy.

Ooohh! I. felt. FREE.

One store led to another, then another, next thing I know 6 department stores later I'm sitting in a Borders book store sipping on a Latte reading chapter one of a good book I "stumbled" upon. Hmmph! I was in a zone.

I mean, I realize I turned a 30 minute quick run to the beauty supply store into a 6 hour trek. But hey! daddy and the kids should be able to take care of themselves without me (if they know what I know, they'd let me steal my moments so I gain back bits of sanity)

So if one day you find yourself wandering aimlessly from store to store only to wind up in the serenity of a quiet bookstore sipping your favorite hot beverage of choice, missing for hours at a time. Don't panic, this is a normal side effect....YOUR A MOMMY.

Consequences

I say what I want:

Please go upstairs and clean your room.

Please go to the laundry room, gather you clothes and put them away.

Please tidy your bathroom when you make a mess. A considerate spot check is sufficient.

This is what I get:

Clothes all over the floor, along with toys, books and other miscellaneous items.

Laundry floor covered with clothes that have NOT been put away by their owners.

Bathroom.....hmmph!, you don't even want to KNOW what I got in there.

This is what they want:

We wanna go to the pool. Because we're hot.

We wanna watch t.v., our favorite show is on.

We wanna just do what we wanna do, when we wanna to do it, at all times.

This is what they get:

No pool time today, even if it is 91 degrees outside.

No t.v., catch the show another time. (besides that icarly show is a repeat anyway).

They will not do what they wanna do, when they wanna do it, at all times.

Grounded!

Hence, the Mean Mommy strikes again.

Dah-dah, dah -dah!

*sinister*laugh*

The love of a boy

Today, was nice and slightly unusual. Not unusual that my daughter went to hang out with her bff for the day, but unusual that my son and I were left alone. Although I spend most of my days with my son, it is not often that he and I are totally alone together. I don't really know or remember when this began in our relationship. I just know that I can't remember the last time it was just the two of us, all day.

Many of our days are filled with Do's & Don'ts, Yes & No's, and time outs. However today was special. When he asked me to take him to his favorite store (Game Stop) to trade in his video games, I didn't object. I said "yes" and I didn't even complain. We stopped an a local arts & crafts store and instead of getting him what I wanted him to have, I gave him the opportunity to pick out what HE wanted. We decided to take our puppy Isabelle to the park to walk and play. Prior to getting there we stopped and got an ice cream, just he and I. We got to the park and began walking, laughing, joking and enjoying the scenery...Just He and I. As we made our way to the edge of a small pond, admiring the ducks and feeling the warmth of the beautiful sunset. My son said to me in the simplest, most matter of fact tone that I know was not matter of factly in feeling " Mom, this is a great mother and son bonding moment."

At that brief second in time, which felt so light, fluffy and sweet, nothing else mattered except...He and I. I realized that sometimes all he wants is for it to be...Just HE and I, simple and true. Sharing the same space, acknowledgement of his individuality, appreciating his uniqueness. Today I made a mental note to self....this will not be the last mother and son bonding moment. It will be a recurring event, beneficial to us both...Just He and I.

Before he was born, I was skeptical about being the mother of a boy. But today was one of those days that I am thankful to LOVE and to HAVE The Love Of A Boy.