“Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans. It is lovely to be silly at the right moment.”
~Horace
In the deep dark days of winter, when the kids are bored and you feel like you will never be warm again, try being a little foolish. Life with kids doesn’t always have to be full of teachable moments. Here are some silly suggestions:
- It’s snowing out and the thought of bundling up the kids to play in the snow makes you tired. So lie down and “teach” your children how to roll across the floor and bump off the couches like a robot vacuum cleaner. While they’re mastering this incredibly valuable skill, you can sit back, observe, and laugh.
- When you cannot bear to watch one more cartoon or listen to one more kid song, pick out your children’s favorite book, put on a cape and a hat (because who doesn’t look silly in a cape and a hat?) and read the book aloud at the top of your lungs in your best Orson Welles voice (wild gestures make this more enjoyable for everyone).
- Fill the kitchen sink with soap and water, find some plastic dishware, tell the kids to put their raincoats on (or anything that would keep them semi-dry), position safe chairs by the sink for them to stand on and let them “wash” the dishes. Then, make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, pull up your own chair next to the sink, put in your earphones and take the time to listen to your favorite music.
Finally, ask a trusted friend or family member to watch the kids for an hour while you go to the grocery store all by yourself. What a silly pleasure!
Come on, Spring!
By Claire Gawinowicz, Certified Parenting Educator