Weekend Playtime with my own kids

It looked a lot like playtime today, and it's not a working day! That's right. Today I played at home and in the pool with my boys and my nephew Kai at the Wellness Center Pool. Best part is, they chose me to be the "mama fish" and they were the various species of sucker fish/squid/made-up-poisonous cool sounding fish or mammals that circled around me, being very silly. The boys took rides on my back, gave me kisses on my cheek and loud "zerberts" on my arms (we were a loud bunch in the pool, but it sure was fun.)

After a long week of work, it was fun to play with my children, and imagine with them, to watch them play in their own worlds, I was curious how the story-line might develop and play-out today in the pool. At work,  in play therapy in my office there are stories that are often sad or incomplete, or play themes that have violent or tragic themes and stories. And of course those need to be worked out, because that's why we're there at the time.

But again, I pause, I'm grateful for today to be their Momma Mammal Seal (that's what I ended up being, I'm told.) We dove and swam, ate "fish" together, my youngest remininced how he used to nurse from me "just like the seals here would do" and swim off some of their childhood energy during this 107 degree weather!

Goodnight at Peace to All,
Flutterer

Second Chance...again!

Well, a friend showed me how to find my blog today. I tried to "do" one a couple years ago. Yes, you can laugh a little. I'm not very "techie" but I do value connection and good information. That's what Alyce has taught me, among other people and things in my life. You can find her blog "Mrs. Bartel's School Family."  You will learn a lot. It's great!

My intent is to use this space to write about my life as a mom, play therapist, and how I integrate concepts of Becky Bailey's Loving Guidance/Conscience Discipline (R). Those key concepts help me at home, at work, and help to guide my teaching with families. More about that later.

Bedtime here in Kansas...three little boys who want to stay up later each night these hot summer nights with crickets, cicadas, and oven-like breezes. Good night for now. They value my presence for our bedtime rituals. :)