Fun With Aunt Jodi

Aunts are the best. We took a trip up to see Eric's family this past week, and for Jodi's birthday, she planned all sorts of great activities for the nieces and nephews. What a gal! First, they puffy-painted t-shirts out on the front lawn.


Then they put on make-up and played dress-up. Jodi is the princess, and Alia, Grace, and Ethan are the servants (who collected black walnuts and presented them to Princess Jodi).

I about had a heart attack when I saw Alia wearing make-up. She's getting old SO fast!

I remember playing like this with my nieces and nephews before I was married. We had great times doing hair, playing with dolls, baking brownies, going on walks, hanging out at Chuck E. Cheese... I couldn't wait to have children of my own.

In a parenting class I took in college, we were assigned to write in our Parenting Journal about what types of moms or dads we were going to be. One of my entries described all the fun I was going to infuse into my children's lives: "hay" rides in the back of our minivan, science experiments about friction, cooking all sorts of cookies and entrees, park days, vacations, etc. I had this image in mind of what a FUN mom I was going to be, and I'd get little bursts of adrenaline every time I thought about it.

Yesterday I was talking to my mother-in-law as we looked through these pictures of Jodi and the children, and I confided in her that actually becoming a mom seemed to suck the fun right out of me. Now I am thinking about what laundry I need to do, what errands I need to run, what I will do once the children go to sleep, whose teeth need a good flossing, what classes the children should take, how to get the house looking presentable for guests, and all those other things that need to get done. When someone asks, "Will you play with me?" I want to do it so they'll be happy, but all the "fun" seems to have evaporated.

SO...I decided yesterday that I am going to bring the fun BACK! If I were talking right now to the "me" of ten years ago, how would I explain myself? I'm sure the younger, less-wrinkly version of me would say, "Come on, April. Don't get so stressed about all that stuff. Your children are bundles of fun--have a great time with them!" I need to remember that creativity and excitement of pre-motherhood. I need to pay close attention to the friends I have who DO have fun with their children. They are great examples to me. And now, instead of writing any more on this blog, I am going out to the front room with my children because they are having a parade, and I'd like to march along with them.