…in other words putting your money, or this case, time and energy, where your mouth is.

There are so many wants and wishes I have for my children. I want them to be loving, generous, informed, and confident individuals. I want them to be knowledgeable and interested in the world around them. I want them to be life-long scholars, investigating, testing, and exploring new ideas, cultures, and places.

I have been struggling with my mom vs. me time. The struggle goes back and forth.  I am so frustrated with my kid’s lack of culinary adventure, dwindling physical exertion, and TV addiction. I decided the only way to teach them to become healthy individuals is to model a healthy lifestyle the best way I know how.

Cooking home-made meals, living outdoors under the sun, and crafting at a three-year-old’s level is time consuming, and physically and emotionally depleting. (I know, I know, I do count myself lucky to be able to stay home with my children. There are so many moms and dads who would give almost anything to be able to be a stay-at-home parent.) But this work to create a healthy life is absolutely necessary. In fact, it is necessary for my health and sanity too.

I hate being a short-order cook. I was cooking a meal for Little Miss, a meal for Mini Mister, and then a meal for myself–breakfast, lunch and dinner. Preparing nine (9) meals a day is just too much. Our meals now are the foods I grew up with. Tons of vegetables. Dairy. Fewer meats. Organic and natural foods. Less sugar and few packaged foods. Eating more healthfully gives me more energy. And even though you’d think we were waging epic battles at the table, full of tears, fists, and hunger strikes, I feel comforted that eventually they will know these healthy epicurean meals to be the norm.

The sun gives life and it certainly lends me sanity. Feeling its warmth on my skin, and seeing its rays outside gives me optimism. The kids are so pleased it is finally spring. We have been hitting the trikes and the playgrounds, taking lunch outside on a picnic blanket, and even playing cars and reading books on the back porch. We all sleep better, eat better, and focus better after a trip outdoors to soak up some sun.

And crafting….well, you probably can tell mine has slowed a lot. Although I lament this to be, I know the pendulum will swing back into balance once getting the hang of menu planning, play-date scheduling, and tracking the weather channel is routine. Knitting has filled my little pockets of time. It is easy to start and stop, and totally portable, so I picnic with my projects by my side.

For now, art at a 3-year-old’s level is an on-going quest to explore new art mediums. Soft pastels was our last endeavor. The kids loved seeing the colored water drain away as they washed hands. Watercolors, acrylics, clay, colored pencils, of course crayons, and side-walk chalk are also favorites. I am thinking maybe oil pastels next?

At the end of the day…I can’t say I did much for “only me.” The kids will grow. They will go to school. And there will be more time alone to ponder how much I miss their little faces. Patience. Faith. And love will bring us all through this life together.