My children are teenagers now, but when they were younger, I found the summer slowdown an ideal way to get to know them more. I believe we are all born with unique talents as a gift from God, and one of my favorite responsibilities as a mom is to discover those talents in my children. I’d set us up on the back patio with some chalk, bubbles and a garden hose, and soon their preferences became evident.
My daughter loved to try new things and didn’t mind getting messy or wet. She’d spend hours on extra-large sidewalk drawings evidencing the colorful world in her imagination.
When my son tried something new, he usually preferred to do it over and over until he figured out how it worked. We once had an extra-large bubble-wand-thingy and he spent the entire afternoon figuring out how long the bubbles took to pop.
The toughest thing to juggle then was figuring out how to get my house chores done, too.
This summer, we are juggling my son’s part-time job, my daughter’s two volunteer gigs, and my own part-time job. When my daughter and her friend offered their services to clean my house, of course my answer was a resounding “yes!” This is a new way to get house chores done, I’ve learned.
Two and a half hours later, my daughter and her friend presented me with the sparkling list checked off and finished to perfection. Their organization, energy, competitiveness and joy shone through the wiping, mopping and scrubbing. I discovered more of my daughter’s talents again, along with those of her friend. I noticed their passion for life, their work ethic and their willingness to help. My summertime sigh was converted a summertime smile. What a gift.
How do you set up a sense of structure for your summer? And what are the gifts and talents you’ve discovered in your children?
2 comments:
These first two weeks, I'm not worried about the structure thing. Kids these days are sometimes so over-scheduled, a few weeks to chill out is needed! (And for parents to not have to cart them all over.) In July she's got Art Camp in the mornings 4 days a week, so we'll get a little structure and I'll have some time to work. August is open, but I already know we'll be doing the beach some days and maybe visiting relatives.
My daughter is brimming with energy. She always wants to know how things work and loves to explore. She loves to draw and uses lots of color in her art. She's becoming quite the fish while swimming. She loves to read and to play at the park. Yet she can also spend hours playing by herself in her own little world.
Kerry:
I enjoy hearing about your daughter! Reminds me of my season with two preschool children, looking for personal ways to explore their creativity but manage my energy at the same time. Not easy but definitely worth it! The library story hours were always a welcome gift.
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