Parenting, Wanderlust and Finding Yourself.

Today, I am thankful for freedom. I am thankful for wide open spaces and star filled skies. Today I am thankful for the want to travel and experience new things. I am thankful for being able to find such beauty and happiness in the things at home. Little victories like finishing a finger painting with my children or breathing in the air of a new state. Today, I am thankful for living outside of the box.

In today's world we get so caught up in things, I fear we forget how to really live. We don't do much outside of work and home so it's like we're living in a bubble. Trying to keep up with someone else's life as depicted on their social media site. We talk about being good wives and parents but we spend more time trying to make it look as if we are than actually putting the world aside and loving on our children, sometimes. When was the last time you went outside and just played with your kids? Put the smartphone down, got off of the Internet and just spent an hour pretending to be a dragon as you're chased by brave little knights dressed in kitchen cookware? It's probably longer than you'd like to admit; I know it is for me. I remember being young and playing outside every day, cartoons weren't an all day thing and my imagination was worth more than an iPad. What are we doing to our children? Cooping them up in front of a TV so we can browse Pinterest quietly. I read "Mom blogs" all the time and while new age honesty is nice I worry that we glorify the idea of embracing how lazy we can be. Sure I want a glass of wine every now and then after a long day but I tell you what, I respect the Mom more who is too busy actually playing with her children to blog about all the "Mom" things she does in a new chic way, like throwing a towel over a wet bed the night before or hiding from her kids in the bathroom with a snack for a moment of silence. I know how stressful parenting can be and occasionally I laugh with sympathy because I understand that Mom, we are all that Mom. But maybe, she should use the power of her words that others read to instead open eyes to the generation we have become. We can become more concerned with making out lives look perfect and having the newest and greatest that we forget what quality time is like. It's time to find that again, to make it. Instead of sneaking a (much needed) glass of wine before bed why don't you go read your baby a story. Watch those little eyes close and for a moment stare in wonder at something we all might take for granted from time to time. Put the phones down at dinner, actually talk about your day. We are the most detached generation probably ever.

Beyond changing as parents, we could all change as people. If there is one thing I think should be done more it is definitely traveling. Home is where your heart is, but the rest of the world is so incredibly beautiful. Get out, and get cultured! If we stay in the same place we start to forget how much is out there, different people, different ways of life we can all learn from. Stop worrying about trying to impress everyone and start focusing on yourself, feed your own soul instead of trying to stir up jealousy in another's. You are such a powerful person and are capable of so much....why not start "living" now? Life is waiting.


Always,
With Love From Betty.