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Parenting Simplified
In a world that constantly pushes us to do more, possess more, and be more, it’s easy to let the simple pleasures of parenting slip through the cracks, buried under a mountain of tasks that seem to mock us at all hours. Once you become a parent, the pressure intensifies: kids must join this sports team, own that trending toy, embark on those extravagant vacations, excel in this music class, attend that prestigious school, don those fashionable outfits, and achieve an endless list of milestones. By the time they reach junior high, many kids are utterly burned out. Honestly, just thinking about their packed schedules is exhausting!
Yet, I remember a golden afternoon from my own junior high days that stands out vividly. I was hanging out with three of my best friends, lounging around, utterly bored, trying to brainstorm something epic to do. Our conversation probably went like this:
Me: “This day is, like, totally dragging. I’m beyond bored and we just ran out of soda.”
Jenna: “No kidding! I want to do something awesome, like, something everyone will remember forever!”
Tina: “You guys…”
Us: “What?!”
Tina: “We should totally dress up like pirates!”
Us: “Yaaassss!”
Laura: “And ride our bikes through town as pirates!”
Us: “Yaaassss!”
And that’s exactly what we did. Dressed in our makeshift pirate costumes, we thought we were the funniest people alive. Our parents didn’t bat an eye when we asked if it was okay. “Sure, you silly kids, go on and ride around looking ridiculous. We’ll pretend we don’t know you!”
The essence of this story is that at 13, we had the time and freedom to indulge in our ridiculousness, creating memories that have lasted a lifetime. I desperately want my children to experience similar spontaneous and outrageous moments.
Reflecting on my own parenting, I’ve found that the best memories often arise from the unplanned, unorganized snippets of joy. Those cozy morning snuggles, evenings on the porch with a glass of wine while the kids splash around with the garden hose, or collectively gasping at that unexpected tiger in Zootopia—these are the moments that bring genuine joy. We just need to know where to look for them.
Recently, I’ve made a conscious effort to find more of these moments by:
- Leaving my phone in another room to resist the urge to check notifications.
- Looking my child in the eyes as they recount their long-winded tales, no matter how mundane.
- Setting up blanket forts in the backyard, despite knowing the laundry pile will grow.
- Painting their nails in vibrant colors, even when I brace myself for the inevitable complaints about drying time.
- Turning down the radio during car rides to collaborate on a storytelling adventure.
- Gently brushing her hair, even if it leads to a mini showdown of wills.
- Creating vacations out of our time together, where all we need are some games and sparkling water in fancy glasses.
- Being present, even if it’s just for a fleeting 15 minutes some days. Kids can sense when you’re truly there, as opposed to being lost in your work or stress.
It doesn’t take much to show our kids what life can be like when we slow down, listen, and give them the freedom to embrace their inner weirdness.
For more insights, check out this excellent resource on pregnancy and home insemination at Kindbody, or explore this informative post about artificial insemination kits from Cryobaby. And if you’re interested in understanding the nuances of home insemination, here’s a useful read from our other blog post here.
In summary, slowing down and cherishing the small, silly moments can enhance our parenting experience and create lasting memories for our children.