Page 90 - Parents Magazine (December 2019)
P. 90
YOUÑInspiration
TH E
F I NALI S T S ! Recently, Henry, Ella, and I had a rare
free afternoon. As we strolled to a
local playground—and I mentally made
a list of ways we could fill our time
afterward—Henry piped up with an
idea of his own. “Let’s waste time
today,” he said, big brown eyes shining
with mischievous excitement. “Let’s
go to the park and stay for as long as we
want to, even though we have other
“Let’s Waste Time” things to do!”
Molly Lopez Taken aback that he’d already gleaned
Hudson Valley, NY the simple enjoyment of unscheduled
AS A CHRONIC overcommitter with a time, I laughed and told him I loved that
severe case of productivity-itis, I’ve idea. Now I try to give the “Let’s waste
found that it’s a challenge to prioritize time” philosophy its due in parenting. “Dirt Don’t Hurt”
moments of downtime for my 5-year-old We still have active weekends, but Jamie Noble
Jamestown, OH
son, Henry, and my 3-year-old we also have precious pockets of time
daughter, Ella. My husband and I both in which the kids drive the agenda. With three active,
work full-time during the week, and Burying toes in the sandbox, sniffing outdoorsy boys,
our weekends are captured by day trips, garden herbs, and morphing into tickle I have learned to go with
dance classes, soccer practices, and monsters are often our top priorities.
the flow! We usually
birthday parties. Time has become a It turns out “wasted” time is actually
spend the day trying to
treasured commodity. time well spent.
stay busy and burn
that boy energy in the
great outdoors—hiking,
fishing, backpacking,
I W A N T M Y B O Y S canoeing, and camping.
T O K N O W T H AT At home we love
to be outside gardening,
I C A R E A B O U T T H E I R
sandbox playing, and
I D E A S A N D W H AT
critter finding. On every
T H E Y H A V E T O S AY.
adventure there is
plenty of dirt-digging,
rock-turning, and
every day to have meaningful
“Real Talk” conversations about life, about the bug-inspecting fun. And
Marquita Hammock things that happen around us and if we can throw
Philadelphia, PA within the community, as well as our in creek water or mud,
I HAVE TWO young sons and I talk to hopes and dreams. I also encourage all the better! After
them all the time—to the point that my them to ask questions and to voice learning to appreciate
10-year-old says, “I already know their concerns. all my kids’ interests
what you are going to say.” We live in a I realize the importance of these and curiosities,
time where we are bombarded with discussions around the dinner table,
I have learned to say
so much information, and I feel as if I during afternoon walks, or while
“Dirt don’t hurt” ...
need to have certain conversations driving, when I think about how much
and a good bath doesn’t
with my sons earlier than I would like technology has taken over our minds
to because, let’s face it, I would rather and the minds of our children. Some either!
this come from me than someone else. people can’t function without it, and
COURTESY OF THE SUBJECTS.
I don’t sugarcoat much because they to some extent it destroys the family
need to know the truth as they become structure. I want my boys to know
teenagers and young men. that I care about their ideas and what
The motto “Real talk” signifies our they have to say. It’s the reason why
unwavering dedication to take time we have two ears and only one mouth.
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