En"JOY" your kids

Although nothing seemed to work perfectly today, we managed to pull through and enjoy each other.  Have you ever noticed that life gets in the way and you can find yourself forgetting to enjoy your children? How many of you actually take the time to do something enjoyable with your kids? I am not meaning watching TV or watching them participate in a sporting event or dance competition...I mean really enjoy your kids.

At times other adults think I am immature because I really enjoy getting out and spending time with my kids, and not just my kids all the neighbors kids as well.  I remember as a child having my dad coming outside and playing sports with us, it gave us the drive to be better, and it was always a blast.  I even remember my mom coming out to play house with us in our playhouse.  Those memories are un replaceable.   I have always wanted my kids to know I love them and the things they enjoy, and I want them to see that personal time with them without electronic devises is more important.

Today we decided to get our basketball hoop out.  Instead of putting it in our driveway like the average people, we decided to take it out on the street where the neighbors could come out and play with us.  We had so much fun enjoying the sun, and although at times the competitive attitudes got in the way of the enjoyment we actually had some fun.  My kids and the neighbors were enjoying time with an adult.  When I spend time with the kids, it never ceases to amaze me, one of them always makes a comment on how nice it is to have mom play with them.  At times other children will say how they wish their parents would go out and play with them as well, or they state they wish they would do it more often.

Do we rush through life and forget the enjoyment we had as a child?  Did growing up mean we couldn't go out and truly have fun doing the same things we did as a child? I hope that I never get that stage in life where I am too tired or too busy to play with my kids.  I don't think it's necessary every day, but making it a point to set time aside each week to enjoy my kids has made such a difference in my parenting and my patience for my children.  I can really see where my kids need extra help, whether in a sport or attitude towards others while playing.

I can actually get on a personal level with them.  Kids open up so much more when you can get down on their level.  Have you ever thought you wish you knew what was going on with your kids?  Or maybe you just wondered what they were thinking.  Either way, if you get out and take time to do something fun with them, they are more likely to come to you when they are in need of advise or maybe they will just love you enough to respect you because you respected your relationship to put them first.  Kids learn from our actions more than our words.  If we can show them we enjoy life, that we enjoy them, and we enjoy things that they do, they will be able to do the same with us and others in their lives.

Today was a great day just because I found en"JOY"ment while playing with my kids.  Today I remembered how much I enjoyed playing ball and how good I was.  I had the opportunity to coach and cheer my kids on, and that is what real Joy is for a mother.