I Declare a Holiday… Find Your Own Fun Day

I’ve heard it said that playing is the very important work of children.  In fact, it’s benefits are so great that the American Academy of Pediatrics has entered the discussion, offering statistics and recommending “free-play” times.  Without getting bogged down in the easily accessed and quite shocking statistics, it’s easy for most of us to recognize that our kids are spending a lot more of their time in front of a screen or at a structured event (school, sports, etc) and much less time in unstructured free-play than we did as kids. 

Free-play has great benefits for our kids, aside from the obvious fun factor.  Those benefits include the gain of creativity, development of social skills and reduction of obesity.  Other less obvious benefits, according to some of the statistics I read, were lessened symptoms of ADHD and childhood depression.  Kids who enjoy free-play outside (known as free-range kids in some circles) also benefit from less Vitamin D deficiency and better vision, specifically less nearsightedness.

This is all such good news!  Put simply, it means that it’s okay for us parents to let our kids get bored.  We can let ourselves off the hook a bit when it comes to planning activities for our kids and/or enrolling them in expensive lessons to fill up their days.  Boredom is good, because it leads to free-play.  Free-play leads to exploring the world, building things and getting in and out of arguments with siblings and friends.  It sometimes leads to messes and even a skinned knee or two, but that’s just part of childhood.  How much time did you spend at free-play as a kid?  How much time does your kiddo spend?  How much time did you spend playing outside with minimal supervision/intervention and is it the same for your kids? 

Here’s to staying home for the day, unplugging the screens and letting the kids get bored!  Maybe they will build a fort or play with some of their toys.  Perhaps they will trek out into the mighty backyard jungle to explore the “great tree" (a common play theme at our house these days).  Maybe the jungle gym will magically turn into a grand pirate ship.  They may even start their own daredevil circus! 

I’m officially (well, as officially as I can) deeming Monday and every day thereafter, Let You Kids Get Bored and Find Their Own Fun Day.  Let your hair down, mom, and tell the kids to go play!

 

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Hope you’ll leave me a comment about this topic of play.  What was your favorite thing to do as a kid?  What was the biggest trouble you got yourself into while free-playing and did you find a way to get out of it?  What do your kids do when they get bored?  Look forward to hearing from you.  :)

Look at what our chickens did!

 

Of course, the kids needed me to get down the old egg basket

I bought at a yard sale a few summers ago…

 

 

And after a bit of clowning around, we collected our very first eggs.

Can’t wait till we eat our very first Scott Farm, homegrown eggs!

Thankful Thursday

Counting my many blessings…

Blue skies and sunshine peeking from between the clouds.

A visit this morning from friends.

A day warm enough for playing in the woods.

The camera my step-mom let me borrow.  It’s so fun to use.

Pictures taken on a very enjoyable day.

 

Dressed-Up October

Playing with pumpkins…

 

Running through the field…

Getting all dressed up.  What a cute little team we have!

 

 

And playing in a big tub ‘o’ slime!

October sure was fun!

 

 

 

Linked up today at…

Looking for a Good Politician?

I suppose I may not be the typical voter, living in the country with chickens in the yard and a pot of beans cooking on the woodstove.  Then again, maybe I am the typical voter.  I am a somewhat educated, pretty independent, van driving momma of the sweetest kids on the planet.  I’m a wife and a daughter.  I’m a friend and a blogger.  I’m a PBS watching, book reading, dork.  I love my country and I want to leave it the very best place possible for generations to come. 

Maybe this coupon clipping, bread making, frugal mom isn’t alone in feeling disgust over the slick, glossy 8X11 political ads found in mailboxes every night.  It burns me up, especially when that same expensive mail promises me that they will cut spending by government.  Uh, huh.  I’m sure they will be very thrifty people as evidenced by their political spending.  They are nice folks, too, slamming their opponents every chance they get.  What makes them think I want their representation.  How can they represent me?  I’d like to think that we are nothing alike.

I’m tired of these climbers looking to “win” an office.  Being in office should be a sacrifice you make for the good of your country, not a prize to be won.  I want to elect someone who humbly serves my community.  Someone who truly represents my family, my friends, and my community.  I want to elect someone who doesn’t want the office but will take the time out of his or her life to do the job. 

I’ll go vote, make no mistake.  It’s my job and a responsibility that comes with living in this country.  I’m afraid that I’ll be voting for “Slim Pickins” and not someone who truly deserves my vote.  I sure do wish one of these folks who are running for office would send me an honest letter, sharing a bit of who they are and what they hope to accomplish if I vote for them.  The letter can be on plain copy paper, handwritten, and copied at the local post office for all I care.  I’d even forgive a few spelling errors in favor of a bit of thrift and honesty.    I’ve given up all hope on this election, but I’ll be praying that some good folks with a bit of sense will run in the next one.  I bet I’m not alone.

 

**  I must add this little note to my rant…  Imagine my shock this evening, when I found a handwritten and copied letter from the wife of one of the folks running for office.  She must read my blog (doubtful).  ;)  It was two pages long, explaining the reasons why I should vote for her husband.  I read every single word.  I threw the rest of the glossy ads in the trash without a second glance. 

Thankful Thursday

Today, I’m having a hard time getting past my emotions to find the thankful.  Some days are just that way.  Oh well, here goes!

 

I’m thankful for

My Mary’s determination to learn to crochet.  She just finished a scarf for her doll, Liz.

My Mom inviting Mary to go shopping with her today.  May they have a safe and fun trip together.

Sarah’s emotions while watching Bambi this morning.  Pure innocence…

Little Sam, still small enough to fall asleep in momma’s arms.

Danny taking initiative to help out with the dishes this morning, even if he is motivated by trying to convince me he needs an allowance. ;)

 

Hope you’ll let go of whatever may be weighing on you today and find the thankful in your life.  Count your many blessings even when they may be a bit harder to find through the fog of life.

As always, I simply adore reading your thankful lists.  I really do!  Hope you’ll leave me a comment. 

The Barn, Day 3

The roof was nearly done this morning before the sun climbed over the trees. 

Then, the trim and the sliding doors were going up.

 

And by early this afternoon, we had a barn.  It has two big sliding doors on the front, one on the back, a covered porch type area facing my garden, and two windows facing south.  We’re waiting for the supplies to get here for a clear ridge, which will also let in light.  Tomorrow, we’ll do some clean-up and begin moving some of our gardening tools and the tractor out of the garage!  I’ve never been so excited to clean the garage!