Dance Parties and Chit-Chats

There is a part of every mom that wants to be the "fun mom;" that lovely, laughing mom that you see in movies whose house is clean as she runs through it chasing her laughing children. Are you that mom? Do you believe that you can be that mom? Well, you can. You just have to choose it.

Early on in my motherhood, I wanted so badly to be that mom, but I told myself that that just "wasn't me", or I would allow myself to get into the cycle of being too busy to just stop and play with my children... a recurring theme in my life, I think. Yet, there came a day when I decided to fake it until I made it and be that mom. It started with my husband instituting dance parties after dinner when our first two children were toddlers. He would play a silly song or some classic, and we would all just dance around. It is so very important to try on a daily basis to pause the tasks of life and do something that brings joy to your family. Here are a few ideas that we love doing in our home:

• Dance parties, of course, any time of the day!

  
  

• Girls night/boys night - Once a week, I will do something fun with just the girls while my husband does the same with the boys. The girls and I might watch a movie together, we might go for a walk, or we might color while listening to music on the floor of my bedroom. Dad and the boys usually play with Legos together (the boys are still quite small and this is their favorite thing to do!) or they will go play outside. The idea is that the kids feel prioritized and have something to look forward to every week. I believe that it is important not to underestimate how much children love having quality time with their parents.

  
  

• We also try our best to do frequent daddy/daughter dates. My husband will take the girls out for breakfast to the place of their choosing. The boys and I remain at home and enjoy our time together. Then, my husband will have times when he takes the boys and they "go on an adventure" to the hardware store, or some place similar.

  
  

• "Chit-chats" are another thing that I love doing with my children. The boys don't really seem to care at their young ages, but the girls absolutely love it! The girls and I will scramble on my bed, or go out back and lay in the grass and just talk about anything they want to talk about. Again, it's just a little moment (usually lasting 10-15 minutes) where my girls feel important and have an opportunity to get all their thoughts and questions out.

I hope that you and your family will try some of these suggestions and that they edify your family's life!