Simplicity

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Monday, May 17, 2010
by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford

Yikes (or "Yikers" as my toddler is saying these days). Between  "Diagnosis" (www.planningfamily.com/blog/diagnosis/) and "Awful" (www.planningfamily.com/blog/awful/), I've been hitting some of the big challenges of parenthood. Hoo boy. Time to get back to the fun. Time to get to the simpler things.

I have a hard time walking into any store and leaving without something for the munchkin. Aren't they just too easy to buy for? Everything seems to be cuter when it is smaller. Now, I look around my house and it looks as though "Toys R Us" has exploded. Yes, I do try to keep things under control when it comes to the clutter. There are bins for organizing and shelves for stacking. I try rotating the toys out and around to keep their "newness" factor, but alas, the spare bedroom (or what was the spare bedroom) is now a grand playroom.

And now, it is spring. So, I've been dragging all these toys into the great outdoors. And now I've realized something. For the most part, she couldn't care less about them.

What does she really like? What do most kiddos really like? What is really appropriate for their play? What is going to optimally support their development? Yep, you guessed it, it's the simplest stuff:
*It's picking up (and throwing) and scooping, and pouring, and sorting rocks, pinecones, leaves and other outdoor treasures (of course, making sure that none of aforementioned things go in the kiddo's mouth).

*It's rolling on and running through the grass.

*It's watching the birds and squirrels. It's listening to their sounds and trying to make sounds just like they hear.

*It's simply spending time with those who love them most, whether they be a parent, family, friend or professional caregiver.

All this made me think of those New Year's resolutions I made: www.planningfamily.com/blog/happy-new-year/. I'm doing okay there. As a parent, it's always about the journey - it's about the little things everyday. I like the simpler things. I think I'll go play in the rocks too.

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