"Fun Day"

One evening, when I was putting the boys to bed, I got a huge guilt trip for not playing with them that day. Collin had been begging me all morning and I just never made it happen. And they cried and wanted to know why. I felt like my kids were asking me why I don't care about them. And it felt horrible. So I vowed to change. And kick it off with an extra special day of FUN.

Now, let me be clear, I'm not at all concerned about making their days packed with "fun". I realize that having fun should not be top priority all of the time. BUT, I do know spending time with my kids- paying attention to them- and playing with them is important. Too often I feel like I slough them off so I can do more "important/necessary" things. I know they value play time with me as an expression of love and I'm not always very good about it. I try to do an activity or two a day but beyond that, they hear a lot of "Go outside and play" or "watch a show"  or the ever popular, "Please leave me alone! I have to get this done! This is why you have a brother!!"

Anyway, I've heard of Moms doing "fun day" with their kids before and I decided the next day was as good a day as any.

Sooo, I announced in the morning that today I would not be doing any chores, laundry, cleaning or errands. Today would be all about THEM. We sat down and made a big list of all the things we could possibly do. And we maybe got to half.

First, we started with some science experiments. We checked out a book from the library full of kid's science experiments and they LOVE it.

For this one, we mixed vinegar and baking soda in a bottle and put a balloon over the top to see it inflate.

We also prepped another one with chicken bones soaking in vinegar to see what happens to the bones in a few days.

Then, we baked blueberry muffins. I was pretty proud of myself for letting them help with every step.

Next, we were off to the baseball fields! I spent a good amount of time pitching balls while they practiced batting and running the bases. Olive wasn't super thrilled with this activity and was kind of a mess. There was also a, ummm situation with Collin that wasn't the best. A mom can only be yelled at to JUST PITCH IT OVERHAND so many times. Arrgh. I swear I'm bossed around more as a Mom than I was as a kid. Needless to say, even a whole day of fun is rife with fighting, yelling and arguing. I just can't win.
*shaking it off*
At least it all started with this adorable picture.

They were hungry bears when we got home but just eating muffins didn't quite cut it. Now, eating muffins at a tea party??? THAT, they can get on board with.

 

Fun day wouldn't be complete without a dress-up DaNcE PaRtY!

(No fun day of MINE anyway. :)

I forgot to take a picture of the fort on the day we made it, but after the dancing, Olive took a nap and we made a super awesome fort! And played board games and ate lunch inside of it.

(The big ketchup stain on the white carpet tells the story.)



Once she woke up, it was swimmin' time!

Aka, dance on the picnic table time!

These kids never had it so good... I even tied a bunch of water balloons for them. My nemesis. I can't believe I haven't bought those self tying water balloons on the infomercials yet!

The following string of pictures perfectly depicts pool time.

Competition.

Wrestling.

Fun.

And not pictured...

Getting hurt.

Crying.

Repeat.

It's a vicious cycle.



I sure do love these rascals of mine. They keep me going, drive me crazy, fill my heart and fry my nerves all at once. I hope someday they realize their mama did her best, but struggled the entire time. It's just an exhausting, demanding job. And sometimes I feel like we struggle 80% of the time and have it together only 20%. Like it's this constant, uphill battle. The very next night, I lost it on Collin. Like, bat crazy lost my marbles. He honestly tests every boundary and pushes me to the very edge. At the end of that fiasco, I prayed, crying for forgiveness. Feeling completely broken. And wondered why on earth Heavenly Father let me be a mother. It's just so hard. Sometimes it's more overwhelming than I think I can handle. And I'm constantly aware of my weaknesses and feel painfully inadequate. Then, I fall asleep and get up the next day. And that day brings kids who seem to have completely forgotten the events of the night before and are ready to do it again. So I do it again. And maybe get something right. And then every once in a while.... a sweet moment comes along. So sweet that it makes everything else fade into the background. And I know what my purpose on this earth is. To be a mother.  And then I'm grateful, so very humbled and grateful, that Heavenly Father trusted me enough to make them mine. Even if for just a little bit.