Pleasant Places: Living Lovely With Family #2

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Living Lovely With Family #2

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the lovely Mt. Hope Chronicles

This week's topic is: "ways to make meaningful connections and memories with our families in our weekly routine."

DAD: Saturdays are definitely our day to play and be together as a family. We, too, spend many Saturdays doing chores and running errands as well. Our son, Andrew, loves to wake up Saturday morning to find that Daddy is home because he knows they'll get to work in the yard, go to the park and maybe even take a long nap together.

This was how last Saturday found them. I have this picture on the computer desk-top now and every time Andrew sees it he says, "Daddy is spinning me!"

Drew wears him out, always reminding me that "boys need to run."

MOM: When I have a car, we make a weekly trip to Target. Besides the fact that I can get everything on my list there, from contact lens solution to flip-flops to light bulbs to a frozen pizza for dinner...Andrew loves their popcorn and our closest store has a Starbucks inside, so we both get a treat to enjoy while we shop! He looks forward to it so much and any time we get in the car, he asks if we're going to "popcorn Target."

Grocery shopping and other quick stops are inevitable during the week, but I try to pack in as much as I can in one day...and I try to balance it out with FUN for Andrew, too. Funny, but little boys don't seem to be big fans of day-long shopping excursions (big boys, either, for that matter), so I break up our day with a trip to McD's for nuggets and ice cream and definitely an hour or so at one of his favorite parks. Thankfully, we have one near Target and one near Wal-Mart! At the park, we love to swing together, dig in the dirt and sit on a bench to enjoy a drink. I know he enjoys it, mostly because he'll say things like, "I'm glad you're here, Mommy" or "Mommy, we're at the park together!"

Lastly, and I hope this counts, Andrew and I frequently nap together, especially since I've been pregnant. It's definitely part of our routine! Andrew prefers sleeping up against someone when he can and when we lay down together, just before he turns over to go to sleep, he often faces me, touches my face and tells me "I love you, Mommy." If that's not building connections, I don't know what is! :)

2 comments:

Heidi said...: That sounds so much like our weekends! I think doing those routine things together really shows kids that fun can be found in the little things. (And a nap sounds heavenly right now. :)) I loved hearing about your family time together. Thanks for joining in!; March 19, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Rachel said...: I loved that picture of your husband swinging your little boy. I think that taking naps together counts for connections - definitely! Things will change a bit once the new babe gets here, enjoy the time that you have just one for right now. You'll love what happens in the future too.; March 19, 2009 at 8:47 PM

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“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” -from A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson.