When did you grow up?
When did you stop running at full-speed for no reason at all?
When did you stop rolling around in the snow just for fun?
When did you stop swimming at the pool or playing baseball in the hot sun?
Maybe one of the reasons to have children is to come full circle, to play in the snow and laugh and tickle and ride amusement park rides and feel the magic of childhood all over again.
Life is one big circle.
Having a child has definitely reintroduced me to the child I used to be – in many wonderful ways. Of course, sometimes it reminds me of just how old and fussy I can be too (why must we fight about getting our pajamas on?) so I guess it works both ways.
As for one of your questions: I stopped swimming for fun with friends when my eye site deteriorated so much that I couldn’t see without my glasses anymore and wearing them to the wave pool was just too dangerous. I was 14.
“Why must we fight about getting our pajamas on?” Because that is what it means to be a parent! :)
I’m finding my inner child again due to spending time with a certain 9 year old girl I care for. When she finds out I’ll be coming over for a few days in a row, she gets quite excited, clapping her hands, giggling and then hugging. I have found myself out on the ice with her trying to run and land on a ’slippy’ thing, getting bruised knees but gaining confidence. I don’t land so gracefully, you see, but I’m enjoying this experience. I’ve never been a mom but I must admit I’ve been the most wonderful auntie. It’s great to be re-connected to this youthful energy again. It’s contagious.
Isn’t if fun to be an Auntie?! I love my nieces and nephews. They know me.
Maybe it happened when I thought Life should be serious and involved and full of details and that doing something nonsensical was only for children. Being near children, without having any, being around cats whose idea of Life is chasing their own shadow has made me stop and think.
Maybe it’s just about getting out of our adult skins at times and play Life simple.
WHAT?! you are having children??!!! j/kidding i couldnt help myself :)
i think that is sort of why i’m a teacher / coach. i can hang out with 16 yr olds all day and pretend i still am one. i actually wonder if nick and i ever will be truly ‘grown up’ enough to have children!!
I proclaim that if you can grow giant pumpkins you can raise children.
We are not having children. However, I have found myself rethinking this topic over the past couple of years. We are certainly not having them now though. :)
I absolutely love having kids because it reminds me of all the fun stuff we used to do…and now I can absolutely do it again…and show the kids new and crazy stuff also…it’s wonderful being a kid again!
Warren, you are the biggest kid of them all. Do your kids know how good they have it, I wonder?
wait….we were supposed to stop? Nobody said anything about stopping. Certainly was not in any life manual I have ever seen.
If you stop does that mean you are grown up? Hmmmm that could explain a lot in my case……have never stopped….my snow angels kick some righteous ass btw :)
Who needs a kid with Cam around? He looks like one big kid!
The funny thing is that he is not a big kid type personality for the most part, which is why I love these pictures because he’s being so free.
Remember the days when we could walk outside and find a world of things to do? Ah, to have such an imagination again.
Having kids around does revive some of the fun – to see through a child’s eyes – to think outside the box.
I like it when the neighbor’s kids visit. It takes me out of my normal routine and directly into their little worlds.
Oh, and why aren’t we seeing YOU lying in the snow making an angel?
I am not lying in the snow making an angel because I am far too mature for such things. (I have the personality of a wet blanket.)
If think if I had snow right now I would make a snow angel too! Your neice and nephew love snow, and they love you!
Isn’t it your birthday somewhere abouts here?
This morning I was making silly words and joking with my 10 year old boy.
He thinks I’m HILARIOUS!
The best thing about kids is that they are a great audience.
I agree with so many of the above comments. Part of the reason I love being a teacher so much is because I can be a big dork all day and the 7 year olds think I am cool. This was made evident when I was discussing a project with my class the other day and one little girl said to me “You’re getting a little too excited about this.”
Children have such great insight on the world. I wonder why we lose that…or why we have to.
Oh the fun of snow angels-I don’t think you’re ever too old for that kinda fun.
I am soon going to be 60 years old (well in 2 years). I am trying to be a “grown up” now. I stopped running and playing because, my son grew up and I got fat.
Now that 60 is coming and I want to be a “cool ole lady” I am getting healthy again. I will run again. I will make snow angels if we ever get snow again. Thanks for reminding me about fun.