A while ago, I read an article subtitled "Why We Should Take Kids Outside and Get Out of Their Way". It probably resonated with me because that's my favourite thing to do. I wish I could attribute this to my excellent parenting but it's pretty much because they love playing outside and I love being lazy.
We go to the beach almost every day, and some days it's harder than others to get out of their way. Other people warn me that Pascal is standing next to the water, as if this is something I should correct. They tell their kids that frog hunting is not allowed, and then glower while mine catch and release every frog they can find.
Today, there's another mom at the beach and I love her.
She hasn't once suggested things for her kids to do.
No performance parenting.
No "come eat your organic quartered grapes to recharge your energy, honey."
No extra loud reminders.
She's reading on her phone and her kids are playing in the water. (They're currently mermaids, beset by pirates; earlier they were making castles and then destroying them like dinosaurs.)
This mom, this chill mom who is raising happy and polite kids with great imaginations, is amazing.
Take 'em outside and get out of their way.
We go to the beach almost every day, and some days it's harder than others to get out of their way. Other people warn me that Pascal is standing next to the water, as if this is something I should correct. They tell their kids that frog hunting is not allowed, and then glower while mine catch and release every frog they can find.
Today, there's another mom at the beach and I love her.
She hasn't once suggested things for her kids to do.
No performance parenting.
No "come eat your organic quartered grapes to recharge your energy, honey."
No extra loud reminders.
She's reading on her phone and her kids are playing in the water. (They're currently mermaids, beset by pirates; earlier they were making castles and then destroying them like dinosaurs.)
This mom, this chill mom who is raising happy and polite kids with great imaginations, is amazing.
Take 'em outside and get out of their way.
