It turns out that our kids are always teaching us lessons. All three of mine are now grown and in fact the eldest is married. Each of 
them has been on their own since he was eighteen years old, they have responsible jobs, and if you would meet any of them one on one you would have an impression of average young men. But when they are all together, they resume the roles they had when they were all less than 10 years old. It’s a hoot!
My husband and I joined them at our place at the lake yesterday, the place where everyone can just completely relax and have fun. As soon as they heard us arrive, I heard one of them call out Indy’s here! Yes, they really were more excited to see the dog than their Dad and me, that’s okay, he was incredibly, silly happy to see all of his kids too.
As soon as we got in the house the stories began. Each one-upping the ante just a bit when it came to his turn to get a word in edgewise. For some reason, the lampshades were all slightly askew and I actually asked how in the world lampshades on standing lamps got knocked awry. Silly me. It didn’t take long for the story-telling and needling each other to move on to a bit of nudging one another as they walked around. Oh yeah, that’s how the lampshades get in that condition! How in the world had I forgotten? They teased one another and had the dog running from one to the other for what seemed like forever. In short, they all acted like they were little boys again.
Two of them took Indy for a walk so that Indy could see the beautiful Wisconsin autumn. When they returned, another enticed Indy into a game of chase. They ran up and down the hill, hiding and then pouncing when the other came into view. The third boy was hanging out with his Dad, puttering with the boat as they got ready to put it away for the winter. Too much chattering and laughing was heard for it to have been efficient, but they got the job done.
Later they discovered the games that have been on the shelf in the family room for the four years that we have been here. I heard one yell ‘We have Battleship and Scrabble!’ the others came running. From there on I heard good-natured accusations of cheating, shouts of surprise and not just laughing, but giggling as they tried to out-smart each other. No one was exempt, our daughter-in-law was in the middle of it all and even my husband was trying to make up words for Scrabble.
I want to thank all four of our kids (yes, we consider our beautiful daughter-in-law to be one of our kids now) for reminding us to relax, let go and have fun. They are all responsible adults in their day jobs, but when they are together they remember to enjoy each other and laugh. Simply laugh. Once again, I have been reminded that most of us have amazing life coaches in our lives; we just need to look around and pay a bit of attention.
So just for today, I suggest that you take a trip down memory lane. Try to remember that fabulous feeling of laughing and giggling. Remember the mud smooshing through your toes on a warm spring day, the feeling of flying a kite, playing in a leaf pile or making a snowman. Whatever it is that makes you feel like a happy kid again. Please take a few minutes, close your eyes and try to recall all of the delightul details… let yourself feel the happiness, the smooshy mud, the cool breeze, the warmth of the sun on your face as you lay in the grass and watched clouds float by. And then, let yourself go, allow yourself to chuckle, grin, laugh and giggle.
I wish you a fabulous day recalling happy memories and making new memories to recall in the future.
Namaste,
Sandy
