Lately, we've been in a rut after school.
-Walk home
-Take off shoes (Brennan's full of rocks thanks to the genius who put gravel in his playground instead of dirt, grass, or something more suitable)
-Boys watch t.v. until it is time to pick up Bart while I prepare dinner
I'll casually suggest, "Hey, guys, why don't you go outside into the backyard and play while I cook dinner?" as I stir the pot.
This suggestion is met with groans, protests, or excuses.
I am more worried with getting dinner ready before we have to leave to get Bart from work then really fighting with them, so they sit, either playing LEGOS or watching t.v.
Yesterday, though, I was prepared. The weather was too gorgeous NOT to go outside.
On the way home from school I told Brennan, "Hey, we are playing outside when we get home. There is chalk out front and your scooter, there is a lot to to do. Dinner is already almost done so I can play, too."
Once we got home, we played outside, even Ethan...and they had fun. Just like I knew they would.
Now today, I do not have dinner ready...it is enchilada's, and I learned they are best fresher rather then prepared and set in the fridge for a few hours...so today I need to get those ready after school, but maybe the boys will protest less as I lock them out into the backyard to play. Their favorite truck for digging is out there, and their favorite spot under the pine trees is waiting for them to come hang out.
No matter what, they are getting kicked out...winter is too close to NOT get some fresh air that does not freeze your nose hairs with every breath. AND, I really don't want my boys to be couch potatoes. I have a responsibility to my future daughter-in-laws to raise better boys.
What do you do to get your kids to like playing outside in the back yard by themselves?
Small Miracle
19 hours ago
3 Words to brighten my day:
We loved playing outside as kids. However, we probably wouldn't have loved it as much if we had tv and video games. My Mom's rule was no tv until after dinner, so we had to find something else to do and that usually involved outdoors.
My Dad used to save scrap pieces of wood and gave us each our own tool box and we used to build all kinds of things. One time he brought home like wooden loading crate thing and we built a playhouse. That took hours and hours and we used to play in there all the time. Other than that, just having lots of friends that wanted to play outside and run around helped too.
Well, my parents usually worked late and commuted home (1 hour each way) so it was up to me to entertain myself.
When I was younger, I loved to go bike riding and hiking on the secret trails in our neighborhood.
Of course this was way before major stranger danger and sicko perves came on the scene. Now you can't just let your kids bike down the street by themselves without worrying about them.
Although... Troy does want to get the kids in some kind of martial arts class when they're old enough so that they can beat the shiznit out of anyone who even tries to lay a hand on them. :-)
When I got older (and tireder from school) I did become a couch potato. Partly because it wasn't 'cool' to ride your bike anymore and partly because I just wanted to sit and do NOTHING after a whole day of being told what to do and how to do it.
However, I don't think you have to worry about that for years to come... plus the boys might want to be in football or soccer or something where they have to move and that will probably solve that.
For now, I don't think locking them outside (figuratively) is a bad idea. When left to amuse yourself you get pretty creative. The boys will thank you for it later :-0
my boys love being outside so i have opposite problem. i usually have to wait till it's dark to get max in without a fight. and is ethan eating sidewalk chalk?? that's one of zack's favs--is it a veggie or a carb?
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