Family Activity Lessons I Learned being a MOM

Since I’m on the “other” side of motherhood—my children are grown and on their own—I’ve been “Mom” for a very long time now. It’s no easy task, and putting a little humor to it helps. Since in the month of May we have a day set aside to honor mothers, I felt it appropriate to share what I’ve learned as a mom first hand (which means the hard way) in humorous fashion (well It’s supposed to be funny if you can’t tell).

Some Thoughts about Family Activity Lessons

• Naptime is a VERY desirable activity for children. Until the child is at school all day, keep complete control over naptime, never letting the child believe that he or she can make the decision to “not” nap. You know, it’s like making your child wear a jacket because you’re cold: the child must nap because you’re tired!
• Want to predict the future? Plan a family vacation and someone is sure to get sick.
• Traveling with children on the airplane can be tricky—watch that cup of tomato juice very carefully. Children can pull it down into the lap of the stranger seated next to you in less than half a second.
• You can learn to enjoy family vacations...about 6 months down the road. (By then the ulcers are on the mend, and you have great pictures to enjoy of all the good moments, even if they were staged)
• Eventually husbands forgive you for not packing their suitcase, but it’s hard to forgive yourself when you forget to pack your own because you were so busy remembering everything for the baby, the teenager, and everyone in between.
• All children have different interests from their parents and siblings. So if you buy a boat, decide to take the family to Disneyland (yes, even that), go snow skiing, swimming, hiking, on a picnic, dirt bike riding, to the ballet, symphony or Broadway musical, there will always be at least one that hates it, and tries to make sure you do too!
• Just when you think it may be nice that your teenager has their driver’s license, so you no longer have to be party to putting 10,000 miles on the car each week, and have your identity wrapped up in the mom who drives the blue mini van, your teen starts talking about “freedom”, road trips, and lots of irresponsible stuff. Wondering if you’re doing the right thing as you drive to the licensing place with Jr. is very normal. But face it—there’s no way out. Stopping them now would be like raising your puny arm to stop the flow of water over Niagra Falls!
• The more children you have and the older they get, the more you have to remember; but unfortunately the older you get the more you forget. Teenagers make sure you never forget that you’re losing your mind.

Kids and Life: What a blessed learning experience! All kidding aside, I wouldn’t trade my life and all it’s experiences with my children for ANYTHING!