Responsibility, authority, organization—all important elements in the life of any single parent. After all, for most of us, if we do not hold it together and ‘take care of business’ for our families, who will? Unfortunately, this can mean that we forget to get silly, have fun, and get playful with our children. They need to see both sides of us and we need to find some pleasure and joy in parenting too. Sometimes, getting goofy and playful is the best way to do this…
Silliness can be incredibly therapeutic and playfulness can help us to connect with our children on a genuine level. Even if you are not playing with your kids, letting yourself see the humor in things, joke around, and do fun things with your own friends can make your life much more fulfilling and help you to de-stress. Believe it or not, even kicking a soccer ball back and forth or throwing a baseball can make family life better and give you a great way to connect with your children.
Recently, a friend of mine’s grandmother died. She was quite elderly (in her nineties) and as the family gathered to put together memorial items for the funeral service, they went through mounds and mounds of family photos. The woman had been a responsible woman, raising a family and operating a couple businesses in the small town where she had lived most of her life. The photos that brought back the warmest memories, however, were of her being playful—having a game of catch with her children, lounging in the garden, acting silly. Your children may be grateful that you have gone to work and paid the bills but when it comes to warm and cherished memories, they are going to remember the times you got silly, playful and let your hair down with them to have a good time.