Monday, March 19, 2012

Good, Clean, Fun.....

Gorgeous weather we're having! I have never (or cannot remember) experienced a winter in the 70s....winter...in Michigan....absurd! Needless to say my littles have been playing outdoors every . single . day. and loving it.

I don't have many rules while they are playing outside. One of them happens to be: Don't touch the water spigot. I looked outside this morning and what did I see....children playing with the water....with lots of mud.
My first impulse was to run out there, yell like a crazy person, turn off the water, and make all my kids come in the house for a bath.
Then I heard all their little giggles......
.....and I watched them playing together....nicely, no fighting, no discord.....
....and I thought, "Why can't they play in the mud?" What would it really hurt? Don't I want them to have wonderful, carefree, sunny day memories of playing outside with their siblings just like I do.
So I grabbed my camera....because the days of playing in the mud only last so long (yes, that is a white shirt lol)......
For 2hrs. and 40min. they enjoyed each other, the water, and the mud.....
My house stayed clean all morning....and I got to listen to a whole lot of happiness. :) I'm so glad I took a moment to just THINK about a rule that was broken instead of just acting on impulse. We of course had a talk about disobedience....and they can't go outside this afternoon because of it, but these pictures will make me smile for a long time....and they will make me realize that sometimes rules can be broken and the world won't come to a screeching halt. Happy blogging!

jess_hak

Linking up to Moments To Remember

8 comments:

  1. Don't you think it's a little inconsistent to take pictures of them and allow them to continue, then punish them after the fact? What does keeping them inside today accomplish, really, when you've already encouraged the behavior by letting it go on and taking pics? Let them go play!

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    1. We talked about the disobedience before I took the pictures. We had a little time out. Having to stay inside this afternoon was the consequence of their choice that they made. MY choice was to not get upset about it and reflect on why we had that rule in the first place. We have negated the rule but I have made it known that they DO need to ask before they turn on the water. I believe that keeping them inside showed a clear consequence to a poor choice....and they knew what it would be before I let them continue to play. Honestly, they didn't suffer much this afternoon since they all took naps then we got out play dough....don't feel too bad for them. ;) Thank you for your concern though! :)

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    2. I love your response to the above comment! So sweet:) Thank you for sharing.

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  2. We love mud around here. In fact, I'm pretty sure my kids have spent 90% of their time outside playing in the mud. Luckily for us, we don't have to worry about the spigot. Ohio has free water in the form of a LOT of rain. So there are tons of mud puddles for them (we also have a rain garden to help drain water into one place on the propert, and the kids are allowed to play in that.) Kids + water + mud = a TON of fun!

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  3. I think you handled it abdsolutely perfectly :) and i love seeing their wonderfully precious muddy faces....thanks for the post

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  4. Okay...rolling my eyes a little. Not at your post, but at the gracelessness of some commenters. :) My kids have had such dirty feet for days...it's so dry here, but the weather is so amazing!! I love bedtime because they get nice and clean in the tub and go to bed exhausted and smelling wonderful! I'm glad you are enjoying the weather, we are too!! Hugs!

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  5. I think you handled the situation with incredible thought and grace. What a fun day for your kids - and for you! And a chance to TALK about the rules, not just "enforce."

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