Playing - Self Care at its Finest

When we lived in San Antonio I had a dear friend...Brenda. We would go to the parks, the lakes, Sea World...and we'd play with our kids. We'd visit...but we played a lot while we visited. We noted we were some of the few in our group that played with their kids..... In San Angelo, at Park Days, I'd be one of a handful of Mommies playing with her children instead of visiting under the pavilion.

Guadalupe River State Park, near San Antonio - site of many happy afternoons

Yesterday, I realized something. The kids were playing at the chapel outing. The moms had a great time visiting....as we should. Nothing wrong with that. I've ENJOYED and CRAVED the female friendships with which God has blessed me.  I realize, however, that I've transitioned from being the "playing mommy" to the "visiting mommy". This leaves a lot of the watching of younger children to Arielle - and she needs the freedom to enjoy her friends too. I'm also robbed of the "funnest Mom in the world title." My youngest two need to know I play. I've been fairly busy since they were born. ::snort::

Yesterday afternoon I donned my swimsuit when we headed for the beach. Instead of shorts and t-shirt. It was COLD and I didn't go in much.  Today, we went again. I swam the whole time with the little ones. I took Stacia and Zander way out to the rope with the big kids. All had a great time. At bedtime I heard things like, "Mom, thank you for swimming with us today," and "Mom, we had fun jumping over waves, didn't we?," and "Mom, you are the funnest"!  Not one of them commented on the fact that I look bad in my swimsuit (and I was glad to have lost that 10 lbs in the last few weeks).  ::snort:: Yes, I love visiting with my friends and I'm sure there are balances to be had...but I know I got it right the last couple of days. I wasn't sure the little ones would WANT to play with MOM - but they loved it. I did too.  Mike committed to me years ago to be "a fully engaged father"  - even though he's "getting up there in age". This week I realized that I NEED to play as much as possible with the children, while they still want to play with me.

Not the actual waves we jumped over...

THIS is self-care at it's finest!

Choosing Joy!

©2010 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...