Build 'Em Up -- The Joy of Playing With Our Kids

Today is the 2nd installment of this four-part series on what's right with our journey into motherhood's deepest successes.  Missed week one?  Read it here.  I must confess that I don't really know where to begin today. Enter my stream-of-consciousness.
 
It has been documented here more than a few times that I am a worrier. Furthermore I worry about my kids' behavior, manners, and independence--or lack thereof. Sometimes as a family we will venture into public dressed like little angels. Then their mouths open and produce the sound of screeching brakes. The crazy train has arrived. Now boarding.

When having moments of self assessment or personal clarity I realize this: at the times of their most unkempt behavior, my children really just want a little attention. But they are children. They are physically and emotionally unable to verbalize their every need.  As both adults and caretakers we have the great responsibility of discerning what our kids need.

I do not believe that kids whine for sport, even though it often seems so. Kids get bored, feel neglected, or even overstimulated. For example, we recently took the kids to the beach for spring break. (More on this trip will be documented soon.) Four hours into the road trip they grew restless, despite having every 21st century amenity possible--DVD player, iPods, Leap Pads, mom's phone apps, etc. They desired the most primitive of life's enjoyments: quality time with family. So we pulled out an old tried-and-true game of Road-Sign-Alphabet. Do you remember this as a kid? You would carefully look at billboards, truck signage, and strip malls for an "A", "B", and so forth. This lasted for a good 30 miles and produced many giggles. The warmth you feel by entertaining your kids and fostering their imaginations is irreplaceable.

I have already read some other posts in this series where bloggers are confessing their addictions to instagramming the "moments" rather than truly existing in the moments. "Checking in" on Facebook rather than checking into the experiences. You're not alone. I am there right along with you.

Right now my family has crazy schedules. Bobby coaches middle school baseball, Rob plays U-6 baseball, Caroline and William are on their own time- and needs-agendas. But you don't have to spend all day together. It's called "quality" time not "quantity" time. When your children are young they have no concept of time. The 15 minutes you spend completely lost in play with them will last a lifetime in their hearts. I can tell you that a quick 15 minutes of playing baseball in the yard, a brief game of Candyland after dinner and before bath, a short wait in Rob and Caroline's "restaurant" while they serve up some plastic peas are going to affect them far
more than how many "likes" your FB status received.

That said, remember my post yesterday on being a work in progress? I've just typed my way into painfully guilty feelings. I'm signing off for now. I have some beautiful babies who want to spend time with their mom.

PS:  The fabulous bloggers responsible for this series have some enlightening things to say.  For further reading, check out Kelly at Kelly's Korner who struggles to keep the balance between wife and mother, Jennifer of Life In The Green House who has learned how to stop multitasking and accomplish so much more; Erin, a.k.a. The Blue Eyed Bride, talks about being the mommy of boys; and Lil Light O'Mine where Courtney offers a great list of 10 Tips For Playing With Your Kids.

Build 'Em Up -- Bringing Faith To Life

I'm linking up with some truly awe-inspiring bloggers today on their series "Build 'Em Up." The first topic is "Bringing Faith To Life" -- ironically something I have a very hard time doing. So why do I think I can write about something that I admittedly frequently fail? Well, in the words of Jennifer, Kelly, Erin, and Courtney, this series is about "[dropping] the judgment and [building] each other up...To break the misconception that good equals perfect, and to seek out the meaningful even in the midst of the mundane."

Every Wednesday night for the past 7 weeks and even before then intermittently, my family and I have gone to church to eat supper with many parish members.  After supper the kids are shipped off to their age-appropriate nurseries while Bobby and I (sometimes me alone) take a class with our parish's Young Families group.  Last Wednesday night -- as is the case most nights -- our priest was walking around greeting and mingling.  I drug Rob by his earlobe strongly suggested that Rob, age 6, go speak to Father and ask him for his prayers.  You see, this was 2 nights before Rob was to have surgery to place his third set of ear tubes and remove his adenoids.  Rob told me he would be so embarrassed.  He didn't want the attention.  He didn't want Father to single him out.  But after quietly being prayed over and given a quick pat on the shoulder, Rob realized and mentioned "that wasn't so bad."  Fast forward to the morning of the surgery.  An extremely groggy Rob was waking up and looking around the room.  I was loving on him and telling him how well he had done.  He looked at me with all honesty and said, "those prayers must have helped." 

You see, I believe that anyone can pray in his or her heart.  Even the most remote love of Christ is reciprocated.  But I also believe that Christ built his church for us to have a home.  In a world so full of hate and evil sometimes God's love gets pushed to the background of our lives.  Therefore, finding a church that welcomes you, and then becoming an active member of that church brings your relationship with God into a more tangible experience. 

My kids have memorized the blessing we say over our meals.  So perfectly have they memorized this blessing that they often rush through the words and rush to take in their food.  Every once in a while I make them stop and say it very slowly.  I will over enunciate some of the words to force them to remember we are actually saying a very formal "thanks" to God for providing us with nourishment.  It is too easy to rush through all communication with God, especially prayer.  Sometimes we need to slow down and make sure our message is genuine. 

Easter is coming up.  I love Easter.  I love all the pastel colors, the new pretty clothes for the kids.  The fun backdrops for the portraits.  Hmm...what haven't I mentioned?  Oh yes, the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus...the reason for Easter.   Now this is a hard one for me.  It's easy to teach the kids that Santa is named for Saint Nicholas and he wishes to remind us with presents that we are celebrating a birthday.  But how to you teach that a bunny is to remind us Jesus was wrongly convicted and severely executed so that we may have eternal life?  I'm seriously asking here, because I really struggle with this.  However, this Easter, I plan to try to incorporate as many Christian traditions as I can muster up, thanks in part to a little old site called Pinterest.  I found and repinned this gem full of ideas:


Source

I am a very faithful person at heart. I love the Lord and I believe He loves me. Now, do I live that faith everyday? Not exactly...but again, I am not here to confess my failures. I am here to remind myself that what I do right still matters and still impacts my children.  So I look forward to reading other entries in this series and gain some perspective.  I also will accept all of your prayers that I may raise my children to know God and hopefully continue to choose to have a great relationship with Him.