It was so easy to see beauty today: in the rain, in my students, in the book I'm reading--everywhere. So I decided to challenge myself and look for beauty in places where I usually only see brokenness. I decided to look for beauty during my time with my kids after school. Sadly, our afternoons together are usually marked by stress, fighting, and struggle rather than joy and beauty. But today I made an effort to see good in my kids and in myself as we interacted.
And I found beauty in something that I tried today but have never been very good at: letting go. I was supposed to take my kids to their after-school park district activities today, but I didn't feel like battling my way through city traffic to get there late and leave early to rush to the other kid's site...so I blew it all off. I brought my kids home instead and made a plan that involved some early rounds of basketball (before the neighbors downstairs got home), some play-doh, and generous snacks. And it worked! My kids were delightful. I wasn't tense as my son did layups on the hardwood floor; I didn't once regret not taking them out to their sports activities; and I realized that not following the original schedule might actually serve us better at times. My kids are active and need activities, especially in the winter, but they also need the routine of coming home and being free to be themselves in a safe space.
I'm not saying I didn't experience any stress today, and this evening was certainly a test of my patience, but this afternoon was a lesson in learning to let go of my need to do everything I had planned to do and put the kids' "needs" first always. Today I tried to merge my needs with my kids' needs, and we made it work beautifully.
When was the last time you changed your plans or adjusted your schedule on a whim? How'd it go?
Yep, at times it's Just good to 'let go' and do something out of routine. We've read an instructional book that told us to "Step out of our comfort zone" each day a little: meet 3 new people, do a few pushups before reading a book, drink water when you really are used to coffee at a certain time..." It can even be "skip the planned activity and just go home to play".... sounds good. :)
ReplyDeleteThis post is my beauty of the day! :) It's so good to read this. I bet your kids did love being themselves for awhile at home. Yes, children need discipline and structure, but they also need some time just to be kids. Who knows what they will learn all on their own in times like that!
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