I don’t know about you, but when I’m home, I see so many things that need to get done that I end up focusing on those rather than my kids.<\/p>\n
This week I spent more time than I would like to admit working on a few things at home and, at the end of the day, I regretted not spending more time with my kids. It really bothered me.<\/p>\n
So the next day I got up early, took care of ‘business’ and then took the kids ice-skating in the afternoon. We had a blast shivering and trying really hard not to fall.<\/p>\n
My kids are 4,\u00a0 7, and almost 9, so the afternoon held its challenges, but we still had fun. I was even a “yes mom” at the snack counter, which thrilled my kids.<\/p>\n
While we were skating, I decided that we should try out roller skating again very soon and compare the two. So, the next day, I again got my ‘jobs’ done in the morning and we took off for the roller rink for the afternoon skate.<\/p>\n
THAT was a TOTAL BLAST!<\/p>\n
At our rink they have these helper things with wheels that my younger two used to help them keep their balance and still skate around the rink. Much of the time I just crouched over my daughter with my hands on the helper and pushed her around the rink. She loved flying by that way, but also put up a good try skating on her own. It was such a thrill to watch all of them trying so hard and enjoying nearly ever second. My older son promised to ‘couple skate’ with me if they ever announced it and my daughter now wants me to buy her a pair of roller skates (in pink, of course).<\/p>\n
As I was giggling with them and promising to come back I was thinking about the fact that there is only a little bit of summer left. They start school in about three weeks. And then we won’t be able to go roller skating, ice skating or the like so easily.<\/p>\n
For most of the summer, as my kids have played, I have either mostly watched or done errands around the house. For two days last week I was super-productive in the morning so I could spend time out of the house with them in the afternoon.<\/p>\n
I know that if we stay in the house I will be pulled by laundry or dishes or the computer or some organizing task. If I plan to get out of the house and do something WITH them, I can’t do that. I have to play, too. And what fun that can be!<\/p>\n
I hate to admit that I’m not a natural player. But when I do it, it can be so much fun!<\/p>\n
My kids are only going to be young once. I’m so glad I figured this out before summer is really over. We are going to pack in the fun over the next three weeks so I can really enjoy laughing with them. I think we are going to do the birthday party tour and go do all the things my kids get to do on birthday parties. Except this time it’ll just be us and I’ll be in there, playing hard, too.<\/p>\n