the kids with their great aunt!!!this last weekend found me and kiddos following hubby to a job. he was headed a great town to work and since this town is home to a wonderful state park we tagged along. we arrived on sunday evening with great plans of tobaggoning, crafting, and swimming. so the tobaggon run closed that day and the craft room closed on monday and tuesday. geesh...what is a mom to do with 2 kids alone for a day in a hotel...atleast the pool was still open!
so anyways...after a disappointing breakfast, we still can't figure out how anyone can make a bad bagel and eggs, but they can, hubby left for town. the kids and i wondered to the game room and played some boccerball. all the while i was praying that God would give me the experience i needed with my kids that day. after boccerball fun was over the kids spent the next 45 minutes playing video games. well, they thought they were playing, but i never gave them a quarter! how great is that!! and they just giggled like crazy! then we went swimming....well, they did. i stood by the pool and threw a football at them. then we soaked in the hot tub. actually, princess spent most of the time massaging my legs and feet with the foam from the bubbles. next, we got dressed and ate the lunch i packed for us. then while i ran on the treadmill they watched cartoons. after a quick shower we checked out some board games, bought some skittles and settled in the lounge. within the hour, our aunt arrived and hubby returned. we took off the nature center, dinner out, back for ice cream, and finally swimming again. and this time i got in with them!
now...most of you probably could care less about all that info. but to me it is huge! when we left for this trip i wanted to go, but i wanted to go without the kids. i love them, but well, after 2 long weeks at home, i was ready for a break! and then - dealing with all the fun stuff being closed i was prepared for a horrific day.
but, in the midst of this, i kept asking God to give us what we needed. and that He did. i so needed that day with my kids. we had a ball. we laughed and played. we talked and truly enjoyed each other. there was not one argument or sass talk. it was pure, sweet fun. i couldn't get distracted by work or the computer. i was just present with the kids. i was involved in their world of play.
it was sweet. i have spent quite a bit of time pondering my resolutions for this year. i've yet to define them - as they are currently a work in progress. i've read a blog that challenges you to have a word of the year. that intrigues me - so i'm working through that too. but as i sat by the pool and watched my kids - i knew i needed more of this. i've become frustrated too often with the role of motherhood this year. it has been trying many times, but i quickly saw my attitude sets the mood for them. they can sense my frustration. they can sense my desire to be alone - and they fight it.
but when i am present with them - i mean fully present, i realize how incredible my kids are. mapboy has so much going on his little head that i'm amazed really. he loves to talk and to laugh. he loves to lead (or boss) and i need to help foster that in him. then their is princess. she loves to create and to be frilly. so when she asked to paint my nails sparkly pink, i agreed. she was so proud to do it! i need to be present in their world and help them grow into the person God created them to be.
so while i'm still working on resolutions - this one is tops - be more present with my kids - intentioally present!
they really are super super sweet!
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