I took my son to the park yesterday. It was 60 degrees in early January so EVERYONE was there. All the benches were full, so I of course asked to share a bench with 3 other moms. I did not include myself in their conversation, but I did over hear what they were talking about. One mom told the other 2 that she was recommended to a book, something about " The top 100 things every kids should do and have". She then continues to explain some examples to her friends. ' Enjoy nature. Take them out and have them start a collection of sea shells, leafs, etc.' " I have done almost everything in the book with my kids, and they don't seem to care about any of it. I don't understand" she says. Her friends tell her that she should really sound excited and maybe 'pretend' to do it with them, in a way to encourage them. As they continued talking, I just thought to myself. "Why would any parent need a book to tell them the top 100 things their kids needs to be happy. You shouldn't enforce someone elses idea of happiness on your kids just because a book says it will work."
A while later, while pushing my son on the swing ( his FAVORITE past time) a Mom walks over to her 2 boys who are about my sons age, 4 and tells them shes ready to go. the kids beg to stay at the park. " We like playing here" they say. " Well I'm ready to go, why don't we go home and you can ride your new 4-wheelers you got for Christmas?" the boys want to stay. "why don't we go home and you can ride your new electric scooters you got for Christmas?" " We just want to stay here Mom." This had me thinking as well. Kids like it simple. PERIOD. They are so easy to please. It's US who train them to be lazy with video games and T.V. We teach them to be greedy with expensive things. I still remember when my daughter was 3, she had so much loot for Christmas. My mother in law received a large box with her gift inside, and once that box was emptied, my daughter had no interest in opening anymore of her gifts, she just wanted to play inside the box. SIMPLE.
We are creatures created for simplicity. Why then, do we complicate things with other peoples ideas and gadgets to make it "easier"? when really all it does is make us struggle and feel like we are failing? I'm not innocent to this either. I have books on weight-loss, organization, potty-training, being a good mom, so on and so forth. But when I read those books, all it does is make me feel like I am doing something wrong because I'm not doing it in the way the author says is right. Make your own decisions about what works for you. Work at your own pace. Society already tells us what the ideal body image is, how much money you need to make in order to truly live a "happy and fulfilled" life. Put all of that out of your mind. If you try to live up to someone elses standards, and work on their timeline, you are almost set up to fail.
This may sound a bit hypocritical , seeing as this blog was started by me doing a 30 day weight-loss program. However, I defend my case by stating that almost all of my weight is back simply on the fact that I didn't finish. I can't deny that I didn't see results, I did. You most defiantly will see results in almost any aspect, however what do you do when that program or book ends? My friend told me last night that its a mind set. You have to have your mind set on it, otherwise its just another failing trend. (New Years Resolution????) Life changes aren't a trending fad. That's why its a CHANGE.
Set your own pace. Set your own boundaries. Set your mind on what YOU want to accomplish. And get there! I am trying hard to set my mind on 1 change at a time. Right now.... Time Management. Everything else will fall in to place as time goes on.
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