If I were to choose a word that encompasses the past year of 2010 it would be home. When I look back on the past year, I realize that, with the exception of two vacations, my family and I spent way too much time in the close quarters of the place we call our house. Now you’re probably wondering, why? Why would any smart person spend so much time at home?
Let me whine to enlighten you.
My youngest daughter, Little H as we call her, is the most active and hyper of little girls. She does before thinking, moves at full force and never watches where she’s going or what she’s doing. Up until just recently, she’s been nothing but an accident waiting to happen and that’s no lie. Lucky for us, Little H naps for two hours mid-day and hasn’t swayed from this routine at all. It’s the only time of the day we actually get a moments peace and are able to sit down and rest. We plan our entire day around her naps and bedtime and we’re tired of it! If we ever left the house in the last two years, it had to fit in either before or after Little H’s nap and before her bedtime, otherwise we opted out and just stayed home. Life was just easier that way, less stressful. Not very adventurous parents, I know but the kid doesn’t sleep in the car and has got to be biologically related to the ever-so famous Energizer bunny, I swear! She just keeps going and no one can keep up to her! No one!
Those days are soon-to-be over!
On that note, the word I’ve chosen as a theme for our family this year is active! By the word active, I mean no more staying home more than we need to! No more planning life around anyone’s nap time! We are going to get out and do stuff! I don’t care what it is we do as long as we’re just out doing! This past Christmas break gave us a small taste of what it feels like to have more freedom. Between visiting with friends, Christmas shopping and attending family functions, we barely were home over the holiday break and it was so much fun! The girls stayed up late at night and we worried less about routine.
It’s so very liberating to be able to just get up and go, however big or little the trip. Now, with the girls being almost 3 and almost 5, we’re not having to pack the whole house with us every time we leave our residence. An extra pull-up and wipe in Mommy’s purse is all we need now that Little H is potty training. To not have to worry any longer about nap schedules will be absolutely nothing short of wonderful!
We’ve already started talking about all of the stuff we want to get out and do once Spring arrives and the weather allows for more outdoor activities. Camping, soccer for Little B, local day hikes, weekend road trips, days at the beach, bike riding, hanging out at the park and spending more time with friends and their kids. As much as I love the age of my kids right now and would do anything to freeze them in time and hold onto their cuteness forever, I am SO looking forward to days free of diapers, naps and routines. Life is too short to waste it stuck at home.
The freedom to just pick up and go is a wonderful thing!
Cherish it.
I’m going to!
This post was inspired by Mama Kat and her weekly Writer’s Workshop.
