We’ve started something new in our home. Each morning we begin with a prayer and a discussion focused on a virtue. Since it’s a new habit and because I often wake up feeling about as alert and spry as a slug, Madeline often reminds me that we need to do our prayer thingy.
This morning our virtue was responsibility, so I asked the girls, “What are some of your responsibilities?”
“To go to sleep,” Madeline said.
“And to make your bed,” I added.
“To clear the table,” Madeline said.
Then two-year-old Rae piped in with big, bright eyes, “To play!”
I’m thankful there are little ones around here who remind us that life should never be all work and no play. Sometimes it really is our responsibility and our duty to focus on fun.
We all have a bit of spring fever around here, but I keep fighting the urge to enjoy this beautiful season. The worker ant in me keeps on saying that there’s a lot of work to be done. We had two out of town weddings in the past two weeks. Yesterday we were in our new hometown where we’ll transplant our roots to in June meeting with contractors. My recent blog posts were pre-scheduled, written long ago. I’ve had little time to write about much of anything. Or to do anything fun at all. My to-do list is overwhelming. Our school days have been all out of whack. I feel like I’m buried beneath laundry, paperwork, and the stress of looming changes.
But my kids haven’t noticed a bit. Their to-do lists are simple: Get up. Get dressed. Eat. Go outside. Read books. Play. Play some more. Chase butterflies. Eat. Sleep. Giggle. Play. Play some more. Enjoy life. Have fun. Help Mommy to have fun, too.
They’re too excited about our upcoming move to be stressed by it. They’re busy smelling the freshly turned soil in our planters and watching the flowers break free from their buds. They’re preoccupied with playing their new favorite, imaginary game they call “puppies” where they take out all their stuffed animal dogs and set them up in rows and groom and feed them. They’re busy glorifying God by soaking up all the joy life has to offer. Playing is their responsibility, and it’s my responsibility to make sure they get enough free time in their day to let them jump down the rabbit hole of their imaginations. Who knows where it will lead them? Who knows where it will lead me?
Isn't it funny that when we are little we CAN'T WAIT to grow up, but when we are adults we look back longingly at our childhood? I loved this post and I can't wait to see the glory of God through my own children's eyes!
Kate, this is a beautiful post. I'm a lazy bum, and when I get myself going I'm more focused on chores than on playing with my kids. Fortunatly, God has given me kids who remind me that THEY are my top responsibility, not the floors… which is why they haven't been mopped in months. (and I mean months!)
I also have to remind myself that I am privelaged to stay home and see all teh amazing milestones and moments of abounding adorableness.
Can I have their to-do list? It sounds a lot more fun than mine. Except for "Snuggle the baby." I'll keep that one!
I call our kids' responsibilities, their "duties."
Janet