Family Fun!

With summer here, the time for family fun is upon us! It's so easy to spend the weekend working at home or relaxing in front of the television. And you can choose to do that. However, if you want to have some fun with your family, try some of the following:

1. Board Games: There are plenty of games in ranges that can include older preschoolers, and if not, make up some new rules! In fact, our son often suggests new rules when parts of games are missing. Or teach them card games like 'slap jack'.

2. Have a picnic: We do this when Our little one is restless. For him we can have a picnic in the back yard and he'll be satisfied. A trip to a local park can also be a chance to have fun and share a picnic. We've even had picnics inside when it rains.

3. Have a water fight: To make it fair, only the adults are allowed to man the hose and faucets. And if there are a lot of kids, play water-laser tag. Tape three strips of crepe paper (white-other colors will stain clothes) or toilet paper to everyone's back. Instead of aiming for the face, kids aim at one another's backs, trying to soak the strip off everyone else's back. This can also be played in teams, which is much more fun for older kids; one both teams scramble and then search the area for hidden 'enemies'. The winner is the one who has their strip left.

4. Take nature walks: Walking in your own neighborhood or in the park nearby often leads to surprises. Take some time to gather some of the bits of found items...pieces of material, twigs, moss, stones. These can all be used to make crafts later. One fun one is to braid heavier thread/ribbon/hemp and braid in pieces from the nature walk, pieces of old jewelery, or other found items into the memory string. We got this idea from tying a string around your finger to help you remember. These are put up wherever we want. Our son likes his on the wall by his door. They're a visual memory of what we've done.

5. Blow bubbles: It simple, yet effective. Kids love bubbles. Have the younger siblings try to 'catch' the bubbles.

6. Have a treasure hunt: Whether you want to send the kids on an impromptu hunt for treasure (everyone look for a stone with no rough edges), or you can have lists prepared for several teams (or even one, really) to find and bring back. (pair youngers with olders, or have youngers do a sandbox treasure hunt. (We use large colored 'coins' or large rings (big enough to not choke).

7. Make a treasure map: See where this can take you!

8. Take part in a new kind of treasure hunt: There are locations local and across the country, so whether you're planning to take a trip out of town or out of the city. Log on and find out what to do. It's real fun, and everyone can take part in this. http://www.atlasquest.com/

I am sitting inside my home with the windows closed because of nearby pesticide spraying, and I hear the rain and wind outside, battering the house, the grass, the garden...and the wind-chimes.

I an energized and invigorated as the storm continues on its way, thunder and lightening punctuating every sentence. I remember playing in the rain storms, jumping in puddles and standing on the porch when the lightening and thunder arrived.

It's my Dad, I remember most, calling us outside to watch the lightening and see the sky when one or another amazing view presented itself. I remember, too, those nights after the rains, outside with flashlights to gather nightcrawlers. It was a wonderful ritual to share, one I didn't appreciate as much as I do now. I don't remember fishing the next day, and there are times I'm sure my father put the nightcrawlers back into the garden because he worked the next morning. With my mother I watched the meteors, rode snomobiles, and saw her come alive in nature during those times. I miss those days, the times we''ll only share in our memories now and then.

Those are the kinds of rituals that happen, and offer fond memories. And I think about our rituals, and how some were passed down. I call the kids out no matter the time, to see the aurora borealis or to enjoy the meteor showers. We garden together like my mother and I did, and I encourage the neighborhood kids to share our back yard and the garden. I watch my husband share stories and play with the kids and listen to the teenagers, and I hope we're building the kinds of memories that we both carry from our past.

My hope for everyone today is to look at the rituals of your life. Which do you share with your children? Is there something more you want to share with your children? Your partner? Anyone? If so, start today. There's something satisfying in knowing we're creating future happy memories.

Kim

Times Change

It's July 5 here, and I brought our youngest to the fireworks. Neither of us could really enjoy it. There were thousands of people there, a lot of beer, soda, fried and greasy foods, and much to buy. Of course, I didn't go prepared to purchase $50 worth of items to last us through the fireworks we wanted to see. And so we waited and when they started, I found myself wondering what we'd waited for.

Several days ago a neighbor had some fireworks, and we all sat in another neighbor's yard at the end of the block watching these fireworks. The kids had a blast, my son discovered he loves fireworks, and wanted to see more.

The fireworks were wonderful, bigger and better, but something was missing. Waiting to leave my parking spot I thought about past fireworks displays I'd enjoyed. There were no carnival rides there, no greasy food, no beer or soda. We brought our own drinks (usually water), we sat together in a comfortable area, and chatted with friends and family. We may have had to wait, but it wasn't long, and we were pretty comfortable wherever we were.

It isn't that I'm against the rest of the fun. Nearly everyone there seemed to enjoy at least some part of the time. I just don't want to have to be there. I like watching fireworks, whenever they are. But I find I like the peace of family time, the quiet of the life I live now with my family. I don't need a band and huge crowds and carnival rides and foods. Apparently neither does my son, who waited eagerly for them to start. But the crowds stirred his desire to run wild; the smell of food left him hungry even after he'd already eaten; the carnival rides and glowing necklaces distracted him. But after the fireworks display started, he was ready to go. We waited til they were about half-way through, then we left. Not to get out of the parking lot and on the road quicker, but because watching the fireworks wasn't fun. He'd rather be down the street with the neighbor kids and the licensed "fireworks guy" who taught everyone's kids about fireworks, about safety, and the meaning of neighborhood fun.

Today I'm contemplating how these wildly money-oriented events affect the wellness of our family and of our community. And I'm glad we have a neighborhood fireworks guy (Adrian) to encourage smaller "shows" where everyone can enjoy themselves and meet their neighbors.