Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Going over the top for your kids

You know those odd grownups that look so funny when people are trying to take your picture? They just make you stare in awe at what they'd do to get you to smile, forgetting that the blank look of befuddlement on your face is not exactly what they're going for? Now 20 years later, you're on the other side of the camera. You want your kids to smile for the pictures to go on the mantle, etc. For pictures, it's almost selfish to want your kids to look their best to show off. What I was thinking about a lot this morning instead was the things we go over the top on for their benefit.

A few ideas have come to mind, especially with recent events are taken into account. When I took the kids to the park last night, the kids probably didn't enjoy getting out as much as I did because they're not cleaning the house, running errands, or working behind a desk all day. But there's something special about using your silly voice, acting like an ape, resurrecting the tickle machine, and other apparently childish things to do to make your kids laugh.

It never ceases to make me ponder (as most things do), that when you're being silly and having a blast with the kids, there inevitably is a stranger walking past either giving you an odd look (like what planet are you from?) or a knowing grin that only parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles will know: Nothing is as important as loving your kids and spending quantity and quality time, giving up sports, scrapbooking, relaxation, a good book or movie for the happiest times you'll ever have.

3 comments:

wende said...

i'm sure i'm not guilty of this at all, nope, never, uh-uh, no way, no siree, not me. ok, ok, you got me, i do it all the time -

one of my favorites, is when they get a little older and can understand potty humor a little...get your camera ready and say, "on the count of three, everybody say diarrhea!!!" this of course makes them all laugh so you don't ever have count to three...

now my kids are so jaded they say, "ya ya, diarrhea, just take the picture mom..."

Swapna said...

been there, done that and will definitely keep doing it again... also hoping that people who think we r nuts will someday be in our shoes!!!...if they are lucky enough..that is..!!

Debra said...

Brings back memories of Katelyn's one year pictures at Sears. You know how you get six pictures on that little proof sheet? It took ONE HOUR to get FOUR PICTURES. Oh, yeah. Not fun. Maybe I should have tried the "1...2...3...diarrhea" thing.