Challenge: Create A Memory

When I was young we went for a visit to Spokane, WA. It was a kind of cool, but sunny day. I remember going to a small carnival where they had a Merry-Go-Round. This was a special kind of Merry-Go-Round with colored rings on the top, immovable portion of the structure and as children wound around the edge they would come to a point where they could reach up and grab a colored ring. But the important part was that amongst the rings was a hidden golden ring. If you chose happened to get that one you received a prize.

I was too little to even come close to reaching the rings...in fact, I think I remember sitting in one of those small non-moving benches that some merry-go-rounds have. I watched in giddy anticipation as my older siblings pulled those rings at each go around. And then a squeal of triumph. My sister Lorelei had pulled the golden ring. What excitement! I don't remember what she won, but I remember feeling happy that day. And that feeling of happiness amongst a childhood with it's fair share of unhappiness is an important memory to me.

As I contemplated this memory today I focused on this. As a Mommy, my job is to feed, clothe and tend to my children's physical needs. But it is so much more. You must be an emotional support, a teacher, a nurturer and also there needs to be that quality that should fill any childhood...fun! I wonder now how difficult it may or may not have been for my Mom to take us to that little carnival...but that memory of childhood happiness is a cherished one for me.

I want, this day, to stop answering emails and planning my shopping list and engage my children in something fun and whimsical and joyous!

The Challenge: If you want to join me in dropping everything and adding fun to your life today, please email me a picture or the story of your fun activity and I'll do a follow-up post here. Let's go out today and fill our lives with unaccounted for FUN! No, you don't have to have kids to play along...just do something, anything wildly joyous today!

(*the photo in this post is one I took of Ella/Chicken last summer, throwing herself into a stream with the wild abandon that only two-year-olds posses)

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