Thursday, December 1, 2011

Sad and Happy All at Once


We've started a new tradition at our house: Wednesdays are Family night. It is so easy to get caught up in the sports galore lifestyle, and congest our evenings with driving back and forth for extra activities. We've been there done that, and although there is much to be said for organized sports (our boys are on basketball teams with Coach Daddy), we are going to reserve at least one night of the week for organized FAMILY!

So last night was Family night numero uno... On the agenda was:

--Make a plan for Giving this year...we are going to be intentional about giving to at least one organization/week or providing needs for people in the community at least once a week up to Christmas."We're gonna get AFTER we give!" Check out your local radio stations for ideas...our list keeps growing!

2007
--Eat popcorn and drank cocoa while watching Family videos. This was the best therapy I've had in a long time. We watched a Christmas video when we just had two toddlers. And then we watched a video of Batman Daddy role-playing with Spider Man and Baby Monster...wow, we had energy back then! It was a tear jerker only because we saw how much joy we have let slip away as we've grown older. Life with the little ones was so much fun! It seemed so simple back then.

What got me most, was my nine year old seemed to feel the same as me. He said, "That was happy and sad."
I asked, "Why was it sad?"
"We just don't play Batman and Spider man anymore. I want to go back to that time."
He knew. He felt the small loss of innocence...not that he's not innocent now, but he knows that to play like that now is not for him...he's outgrown it. Daddy spends a ton of time with his kids now...they play guitar together, drums together, play sports, go to the local nature trails...Daddy is a superhero! But, my little boy is growing fast and he knows it. We need to make these days better than each yesterday.

I have been in a funk lately. I let materialism get to me in this recent move. I let the kinks become big ol' knots. I am done being like this. I want to make this time the best ever, and next month to outshine now, and so on and so on. So one day when we look back, it will be sad and happy all at once!

2 comments:

  1. You have a smart nine-year-old! Our family nights are on Wednesdays, too, and during that time this week I also talked with my husband about spending more time giving instead of it all being about getting. It's a hard perspective to hold onto and to show to our kids in today's world, but I so love reading blogs about families who are doing it!

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  2. I love your heart, Angie! You always challenge me with your thoughts, and I'm grateful for you! I hear you on the struggle with material things--I believe it's a constant battle, yet letting go is SO worth it. Family time is so worth it. That's what's important. Thanks for sharing, friend!

    Mel

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