Play time

It has been a busy summer. Sometimes it’s been a good busy, full of family and parties and fun adventures. In the midst of moving, we packed our weekends with fun things to distract us from the craziness. We spent time at the beach, the fair, endless celebrations.

Last weekend, we had a free Saturday. Such a thing has not happened since April. I am not exaggerating.

Every Saturday, Carter wakes up and asks if it’s “Stay Home Day.” He asks this many days, with a bit of hopeful anticipation. On Saturdays, we get to tell him it is and he can barely contain his glee. He sometimes dances, sometimes squeals. The boy loves a Saturday. And I do, too, usually to get up and get out of the house, to go and do and accomplish.

So last weekend, on this illusive free Saturday, I asked him what he wanted to do. I was flipping through the options in my head… taking advantage of our Sea World passes, or the aquarium, maybe the beach or the park, the book store, we could do a craft or science experiments…

His answer? Play. Just play. In our house. Preferably in his pajamas.

I want to accomplish, and sometimes it’s sheer necessity that I need to cram in an entire week’s worth of errands and responsibilities into one day. I have lofty goals of planning the most fun day a family has ever had, and everything must be perfect. But Carter just wants to play and relax and hang out. I have so much to learn from that kid. 

and this is why childhood obesity is a problem.

I don't have the greatest eating habits. I have a fairly unhealthy relationship with dessert, I eat Taco Bell, and I've been known to make vegetables that steam in the microwave.

That being said, my kids eat pretty well. I buy organic baby food and made some of my own. Carter didn't have juice until he was well past 2 and even then it was mostly water and 100% juice. He rarely gets dessert and Avery's never had juice or chocolate or a real cookie. Carter is a fantastic eater so I don't worry too much about him, but I'm pretty passionate about children's nutrition, within reason and moderation of course.

Which is why I'm a little fired up. Avery moved up to the Toddler Room this week at daycare, so she now gets the school-provided breakfast and snack and we can opt in to the lunch program. The menu is just awful. Half the time breakfast is just cereal and milk. For a one year old, I really think they should get a minimum of a protein, grain, and some sort of low-sugar produce. Twice this month they're getting JELLO for snack. Jello is not an acceptable snack. Jello is basically sugar, water, and chemicals. Jello is barely a food. We pay what I consider crazy amounts of money for her care, we shouldn't have to send a different snack than the one included because it's junk.

I'm hesitant to say much because we're still relatively new there and I'm already a pretty vocal parent (not surprising) but does anyone have Jaime Oliver's phone number?

Perspective

Aside from a few hiccups and quirks, the new house is great. Everything has gone pretty well in the transition. I find myself looking around at a house bigger than I’d imagined and so much nicer than our old house (although, it’s really not that hard) and feeling really blessed. That’s actually been a little convicting about the previous state of annoyance of my heart.

I have two beautiful children who are healthy and relatively happy, who completely have my heart and bring joy to every day.

I have a husband who supports and loves me.

We have food on the table. Our bills somehow get paid.

We have a roof over heads. Regardless of the size of that roof, it shouldn’t change my relationship with God or my faith in his provision. 

Give thanks to the Lord, for HE is good (i.e. not because the stuff He gives you is good); his love endures forever. Psalm 118: 1