“Awww, Mom!” That’s what I hear in chorus when I tell my kids to run outside and play. But if I go with them, they skip out the door.
The problem is I have a short attention span for play. I wish I were a different kind of mom, but I get more satisfaction out of nurturing my children than kicking a ball with them.
I read somewhere that women are most happy when they feel in control of their lives. That would be me. I’m always trying to “get things done.” As my life gets busier with family and work, I’ve become a shameless multi-tasker: I’ll write a thank you note while the pasta is boiling, pick up toys every time I walk through the living room, make a phone call as I pace with a fussy baby. Crossing things off my list has become a stronger pick-me-up than a chunk of Swiss chocolate.
It’s very important to me to encourage imaginative play in nature, but I need something to keep me out there with the kids. So when I was asked to be a state leader for B Kind 2 Earth Day, I decided to think about ways that help parents have fun outside too. Because I can blab to my kids all I want about the benefits of fresh air, but the most powerful message is when they see me enjoying myself outdoors.
So here are my top ten favorite ways to accomplish something under a blue sky (besides working on the laptop on the front porch, which doesn’t count by the way. I tried it.)
1. Invest in an old-fashioned push lawnmower (no engine, no noise) and cut the grass while kids play around you. Because manual lawnmowers are hard to push, you’ll get some good exercise too.
2. Plant some flowers so you’ll be motivated to pull up weeds.
3. Sweep the deck or driveway — even if it doesn’t really need it. Repetitive motions like raking or shoveling trigger the release of feel-good hormones.
4. Collect nature treasures with your kids to decorate the mantel or table centerpiece, such as pinecones, berries, acorns, colorful leaves, wildflowers, moss, interesting branches, pretty stones.
5. Scrub outdoor furniture, or bring out a bucket of soapy water and clean something else that needs it (toys, trash cans, bikes, boots).
6. Start a gardening play swap with a group of friends. Take turns weeding and tending each other’s gardens while the kids play.
7. Put the baby in the front pack, the toddler in the stroller, or strap weights on your ankles and just walk around, get your heart rate up, and drink in the sun and the breeze.
8. Bring out a bag of laundry to fold, a bowl of green beans to snip, or a similar project that requires little concentration.
9. Wash the car.
10. Plant a garden. This is my favorite idea because it connects children and grown-ups in a fun but useful activity. When we go to my parents’ farm, my kids and I love searching for cucumbers, plucking cherry tomatoes, and checking for new green beans. And we get something more out of the activity — dinner!
I admit I still feel a pang of guilt when I beg off another round of Red Light, Green Light. But it’s time to get over that. A few games are fine, but I don’t need to add playmate to the long list of roles modern parents are expected to fill. Hey, I was a kid once too, but I’m allowed to love grown-up play. Or work. If I’m lucky, it’s the same thing.
And what am I going to do to celebrate Earth Day this Friday? Holidays are a perfect time to escape my ordinary self and everyday routine. So I think I’ll lie in the grass with my kids for a change, staring up at the sky and finding creatures in the clouds.
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