ArE yOu a pLAyEr?

First Flight Last Year!

dEar aLL of yOU(s)!

Today I played at Valleyfair again, and guess what? I went on the RIPCORD for the second time in my life. . . and I played all day. CHeck out my vid from last year--forthcoming vid from today coming up soon at a theatre near you.

One thing I love about my job as a mom and a teacher?  Kids all playing together! Amazing! We bIg kIdS have a lot to learn from the little ones . . . or, I should say, we gRoWn uPs have a LoT to LeaRn about ReMeMBerINg to be KiDs!

This might be weird, but one thing I notice and celebrate is that kids have to continue working things out if they want to keep playing together. Like, for example, there is a flow of communication that naturally happens as a result of the kids wanting to CONTINUE to PLAY! 

So, there's this amazing cycle in no particular order of:

• GIVE AND TAKE & SHARING: "Here's a watermelon Jolly Rancher for you..." or, "Do you want to share my blankie?"
• TAKING EACH OTHER'S STUFF ("That's my shovel", "Hey! I wanted the last piggy in a blanket!")
• FIGHTING
• TESTING LIMITS & BOUNDARIES (aka...what can I get away with!)
• SETTING BOUNDARIES (e.g. "I don't like that!" or "You can't say shut up to me"
• MESSING UP: "Oops. Mom, I spilled the nail polish on the table..."
• feeling whatever the he(l)k they feel LIKE--BEING MAD (like, throwing a tantrum with no apologies)...SAD ...and SUPER DUPER HAPPY & ECSTATIC (but mostly the good stuff)
• SAYING "I'M SORRY"... and actually meaning it...
• FORGIVING: "That's okay. I know you didn't mean it..."
• MAKING UP---HUG!... FIST BUMP!...HIGH FIVE!
• BREAKING THE RULES...again!
• CALLING EACH OTHER OUT ON BREAKING THE RULES
• CREATING NEW RULES

AND STARTING OVER AGAIN...

and again...

and again

• and, 'cuz playing is way more fun than fighting, there is a natural move toward communication and collaboration with the kiddos
• and, when things get too tough, kids take a break, ask for help from a grown up or another kid, simply find another more suitable kid to play with . . . or, move entirely to another playground!

(do you know where I'm going with this yet?)

Hmmmnnnn...interesting!

What if grown ups took lessons from kids about how to keep playing together? You know, no drama, say what ya gotta say, renegotiate, and MOVE ON? That's what I want to do with my friends & loved ones . . . KEEP PLAYING!

LiFe is gO(o)D! Just sayin'

dana, the great

(tiara, please . . . )