I was sitting in the house with the kids, having decision fatigue about what to do for the day. You can only go to the beach, paint, and play with Play-Doh so many times. Boredom was stamped on my face, and restlessness ran throughout my veins because I knew we had to get out of the damn house. Enter Google, and I did a quick search. We were in the car driving to a nearby berry patch. I had not been to the berry patch since I was a kid; I could hardly remember it. We pulled up, grabbed our crates, and hit the fields. The kids were joyful; they could hardly believe these red and blue things grew on bushes, and you could eat them! It was the moment you saw the world as beautiful and magical as ever through their eyes. As we finished packing our crates and ourselves into the car, I saw a white gas station out of the corner of my eye. It looked familiar, and memories returned as I focused closer on it. It was the Big Marine Lake Store. This little general store gas station was where my friends and I would pit stop on our way to our buddy's boat for a good ol' day on the lake tubing. The Lake Store held the prize possession for our coolers: their deli sandwiches. After the quick realization and trip down memory lane, I drove towards the store. We walked into the store, and it looked a little different, but the thing that remained the same was those delicious sandwiches. I bought us some, and we sat at the picnic table outside. I eagerly watched as my daughter took her first bite. She looked at me wide-eyed and said, " Mom, this sandwich is so good!" As we drove home, I thought this is what makes it all worth it. Not just my kid eating a sandwich. It was about reliving and bringing the best memories and parts of growing up and sharing those with our children. It does not seem rocket science, but sometimes it takes a while to click. Somedays, parenting can feel daunting, dull, and exhausting, but some days feed us wholeness, playfulness, fulfillment, and delight.  

A time to journal and reflect:

• What things from childhood would you like to recreate or relive with your children?

• What new memories, traditions, daily rituals, and routines would you like to create with your children? Is there anything you wish you would have done as a kid that you did not get to do?

• Make a running list with your family to get everyone's input on finding fun in and out of the house when boredom strikes.

Conversation in the Chair:

Let me know in the comments how you have found delight in parenthood. 😊