Free to Laugh
When was the last time you laughed so hard you almost peed your pants? For me, that would be last night when the girls at the dinner table decided to make up their own language and actually try to communicate with each other. Needless to say, we were laughing so hard because actually NO ONE could communicate at ALL! This is a typical day when we are all together.
There are times as a parent to be serious, but there are times that there needs to be a freedom to be as silly or goofy as you want because that’s what makes life fun! Being a blended family has so many serious sides of it that we try very hard to let loose the laughter as much as we can. It’s the glue that keeps us together.
Alex and I are very hands on when it comes to playing with the girls. Spontaneity and creativity is fostered and encouraged. I am always pushing the girls to come up with a new game to play.”What game are we going to make up today, Ladies?” I always go back to my own mantra that it is the simple things that mean so much. With this idea in mind, we created a crazy game using balloons one day. We called it The Balloon Race. I blew up balloons for each of them, counted to three, and they let go. The balloons whizzed all over the kitchen and whoever’s balloon went the farthest got a point. We laughed so hard as the balloon became like a boomerang and circled back to the starting point or landed up in the spice cabinet over the stove.
There is a comfort that comes with this freedom as well as acceptance for who they are. I want the girls to feel free to express themselves and feel confident. Yes, there are certain life situations when we need to be more aware of manners, and respecting those around us. However, I want them to feel secure in how they feel and not feel certain societal pressures of conformity. Too often there is peer pressure to wear this or that to fit in or to NOT wear certain things because of what other might say. Last week, we went to the Little Mermaid Ballet and they wanted to wear the sequined mermaid tails I had made them. Why Not? Yes, it is the theatre and everyone will be dressed to their finest, but they are little girls. They strutted those tails through the front doors and up the stairs to their seats, walking by other little girls who just stared at them, mouths open, tugging their mommy’s sleeve saying: I want one of those tails too!!
After the Ballet, they found pedestals outside the theatre and pretended to be mermaids sunning themselves on the rocks. They felt so cool and proud!
It’s not the first time these mermaid tails have made a public appearance. They have been worn at the beach and swam in the ocean. I remember a few moms that time coming up to me, concerned that the salt water would ruin the tail. Who cares? “It’s washable” was my answer.
These days with all the electronics and TV, kids are not getting the opportunity to just have fun. There are restrictions to the fun: Don’t play in here, don’t make a mess, or your clothes will get dirty….
We are that house where the kids come to get messy and experience multidimensional play. Yes, please bring a change of clothes when you come here because we make rainbow pasta and mud pies.
When I sit back and watch the girls play, their little bodies shine with such a bright light when they are allowed the freedom to be who they are, fully become immersed in play, and just laugh. Time moves so fast and soon they will be grown. I want them to experience as much laughter and fun as possible together. It’s my job as a mom to love their light. If something hurts them and they want to move into the shadows to hide, these are the memories that will remind them of the light, love and laughter.
Let their light shine and explode into fireworks of laughter sprinkling their love over everyone they meet.
Category: Parenting
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