A Day's Success

I find myself spending much of my 'day planning time' floundering around in ideas of what to do to keep my boys entertained. It consumes much of my time. We've been everywhere: museums, zoos, parks with train rides, stores with waterfalls or merry-go-rounds. I've taken them to kids shows, water parks, gymnasiums... the list goes on.

One particular day while the boys and I were on a walk we discovered a tiny pool of water that sits in front of a nearby complex. In it there are three water fountains that spout water into the pool. We decided to stop. Jonny was in heaven.  His face lit up while he watched the water splash and make tiny bubbles. He began picking up any loose gravel, pebbles, or dirt clots he could find and throwing them into the foot-deep water. It was as though he had discovered a new best friend to play with and did not want to leave. Every day since he has asked me if we can walk over to the "high water" and "trow (throw) rocks really hard" into it. Jonny is his happiest here.

Here is what I've discovered: It does not matter where I take my kids or what adventure we are having. It doesn't matter if we are playing at an overcrowded Chuck-E-Cheese or sitting under a shaded tree in front of our parking lot. What matters is that we're spending time together. Please do not misunderstand me. I want my kids to experience and discover new things. I just realize that I don't have to enroll them in a gymnastic class or take them to a water park for them to do so. Their idea of fun includes gathering rocks and throwing them in a pool of water.

Sometimes I finish the day wondering what is is, if anything, that I accomplished as a mother. The piles of clean laundry are still unfolded, it's 3pm and I still haven't showered, and dinner consists of grilled cheese sandwiches and a can of baked beans. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed as a mom when the list of expectations seems endless.

I've decided (for my sanity) to reevaluate how I measure the successfulness of my days as a mother by answering these three questions:
1. Was I available for my kids?
2. Did I listen to them?
3. Did I tell and show them how much I love them?
When compared to these simple questions the rest does not seem to matter much.

I hope my boys can feel each day how much I love them.