I love to challenge my daughter. I challenge her to think differently, express herself, be confident and in numerous other subtle ways as well. I really enjoy keeping her on her toes so that she, and we, does not become too predictable in our choices, movements and actions. Because we are creatures of habit and because the daily routines of everyday life can often feel, to be frank, really boring over time, I started to think about ways I could mix it up from time to time, ever so subtly, and keep my girl guessing and thinking. It started innocuously enough, when I moved her chair at the dinner table one night. It is amazing what happens when you sit in a different spot, your whole outlook on the world around can be altered. You are forced to look at things a bit differently.
This may seem like commonsense. Of course things are going to look differently – you are now staring at something or someone else, but rarely do we ever consciously opt to change my little routines. For example, I always used to sit in the same seat in the conference room at work. But one day I sat on the other side of the table and it truly felt exhilarating!
Eating in a different space can really have a drastic impact on the way we feel, act and think. Most importantly, a different perspective on the ordinary world we live in is just plain fun. Try this little experiment in your house.
Move the beds around, watch TV in a different spot, switch seats at the dinner table, move a dresser to a new corner of the bedroom, try using your off-hand to eat your bowl of cereal. There are a number of fun things you can do to change up the ordinary and keep your kids on their toes.
Ever intentionally (or accidentally) do something to mix it up around the house? Share what worked for you and how did you children react?
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