What is it about bubbles and sidewalk chalk that you never grow out of? I was pondering this exact thought yesterday when my children and I were playing. It seems like they are timeless, your never too old to enjoy them. This was the scene, I being the cool mom got out the bubbles and chalk and decided to allow them to play freely as I sat on the porch watching. At first I was engrossed in a good read, until their giggles erupted, I being curious looked up to see what was so funny. I was shocked at first considering they were simply popping the bubbles. Okay now while that seems like fun it wasn't something I thought I could laugh uncontrollably at. So like most adults I smirked and went back to my read until I heard even more laughter. Now this time I looked up and seen my 2 year old running in circles trying to eat the bubbles, okay now were talking this is funny. I laughed and instantly put my book down and walked over to play as well. I suggested to my 6 year old I now blow the bubbles, she agreed and handed a bubble container and wand.
Now the first few times I wasn't so good at making lots of bubbles (according to my children) so I practiced and wouldn't ya know it I got better. Soon I was pumping out bubbles like a pro. They loved it but honestly I think I was having more fun then them. The sight of my children playing and laughing at me simply blowing soapy water through a wand amused me more then anything. Now bubbles were fun but I was feeling like I was 6 again and had so much to show them with chalk. First we tried hop scotch, I forgot how much fun that is. Then we did our names and made lots of fun designs which again surprised me at how much fun it was. I was moving much faster at this point and I realized my kids were too interested in doing their own designs to care what I was doing. I looked around and they were no where near me yet here I sat still coloring with chalk. We sat there for quite some time coloring and playing it was honestly the most fun ive had in a while. So the question of the day is what childhood activities are just simply irresistible to you now as a adult? What is it about a simple thing like chalk and bubbles that interest us so much?
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Resturants are NOT gymnasiums
So let me start by saying that my children are far from perfect and they have their moments, oh boy trust me they really do. In fact currently they are SO grounded for their behavior, however these things normally happen at home NOT in public. So the point of this being I work in the restaurant industry and let me tell ya kids run this world. I have seen kids literally throw such a fit their parents let them eat ice cream for dinner just to shut them up. I would say at least 3 out of 10 tables allow their kids to play on Ipads, Ipods, tablets, hand held video games, or a phone during and all through out dinner. Yet somehow we have no idea how they ever act out or how when they are 16 they have no sense of family unity! Seriously come on people get to know your kids, make them actually talk to you instead of encouraging them burring their cute little faces into technology.
Okay while that is just annoying to me because as a parent I know that kids have no idea what is best for them and it is our job as the adult to guide them and show them the way. There are many things that are just common sense. Such as behavior that is NOT acceptable. Lets start with screaming, if your child is behaving badly enough that no one wants to sit around you then its time to pack up and leave. A child does not understand nor grasp the concept that this is not acceptable if we do not show them first. So if you sit there and shhhh and please be good while handing them anything you can get your hands on the child is NOT learning this is not okay in fact they are learning hey I get what I want. So either take them to the bathroom for a quick break and explain to them this is not okay or if they cant understand that then leave. This is showing the child that we have consequences to our actions and we have to behave.
My next point is really for the parents. Food throwing, okay okay I know all kids make a mess and I get it trust me mine make enough of their own. However once the child is old enough we must teach them the proper way to eat and that making a mess with items other then food is just as much unacceptable as food is. So parents its not cute to let them tear napkins and crush saltines all over the floor. YES we have to clean that up and no its not okay. It is just as unacceptable to allow them to order a wait person around. Your ten year old ordering her own food and demanding it be cooked to still be juicy with extra sauce and crisp potatoes is not cute but rather annoying especially when they do not say please or thank you.
That is my last point MANNERS when did we as a society forget to teach those? I am not referring to just at restaurants on this one. I am referring to every where. Your child when in public is a direct representation of what kid of parent you are. So when you child walks around cussing like a sailor and hanging with the "bad" crowd it makes it look like you are either oblivious and blind or don't care about what your child is doing. We should be teaching them from the beginning that they are going to be expected to behave a certain way so that once they are the age of being out and about on their own they will make better decisions. Please and Thank You are great starters. I have begun to teach mine to say Yes Ma'am and Yes Sir I think that is getting back to the basics and will eventually help my children excel in life. So please be aware of your kids be aware of what they are doing and please keep in mind a restaurant is not a child's play ground. They are a direct reflection of your parenting. So if your kid is screaming, throwing food or turning a restaurant into a race track expect people to look at you like you are insane.
Thanks
From one parent to another
Okay while that is just annoying to me because as a parent I know that kids have no idea what is best for them and it is our job as the adult to guide them and show them the way. There are many things that are just common sense. Such as behavior that is NOT acceptable. Lets start with screaming, if your child is behaving badly enough that no one wants to sit around you then its time to pack up and leave. A child does not understand nor grasp the concept that this is not acceptable if we do not show them first. So if you sit there and shhhh and please be good while handing them anything you can get your hands on the child is NOT learning this is not okay in fact they are learning hey I get what I want. So either take them to the bathroom for a quick break and explain to them this is not okay or if they cant understand that then leave. This is showing the child that we have consequences to our actions and we have to behave.
My next point is really for the parents. Food throwing, okay okay I know all kids make a mess and I get it trust me mine make enough of their own. However once the child is old enough we must teach them the proper way to eat and that making a mess with items other then food is just as much unacceptable as food is. So parents its not cute to let them tear napkins and crush saltines all over the floor. YES we have to clean that up and no its not okay. It is just as unacceptable to allow them to order a wait person around. Your ten year old ordering her own food and demanding it be cooked to still be juicy with extra sauce and crisp potatoes is not cute but rather annoying especially when they do not say please or thank you.
That is my last point MANNERS when did we as a society forget to teach those? I am not referring to just at restaurants on this one. I am referring to every where. Your child when in public is a direct representation of what kid of parent you are. So when you child walks around cussing like a sailor and hanging with the "bad" crowd it makes it look like you are either oblivious and blind or don't care about what your child is doing. We should be teaching them from the beginning that they are going to be expected to behave a certain way so that once they are the age of being out and about on their own they will make better decisions. Please and Thank You are great starters. I have begun to teach mine to say Yes Ma'am and Yes Sir I think that is getting back to the basics and will eventually help my children excel in life. So please be aware of your kids be aware of what they are doing and please keep in mind a restaurant is not a child's play ground. They are a direct reflection of your parenting. So if your kid is screaming, throwing food or turning a restaurant into a race track expect people to look at you like you are insane.
Thanks
From one parent to another
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)