Since I have finished maternity leave, it is increasingly difficult to get together with some of my friends with young kids, especially since they have gone back to work also. 

My oldest daughter is constantly wanting to play with someone.  It was much easier when she was younger, because you could just cart her anywhere, to a park, an indoor playland, a farm, you name it…..she would be happy.  That is no longer the case.  Now, she always wants to “see someone”. 

This week I contacted a couple of friends (who their children are friends with mine also).  We planned to meet at a local free splash pad after work.  Plan B was the Mc Donalds Playland if it rained.  Luckily, it was hot and sunny.  I brought a picnic blanket, a fruit platter, someone brought the drinks, and we all pitched in for some pizza. 

The splash pad had two play structures with swings and slides, and ofcourse a complete water wonderland filled with ice cold hose water.  We set up our picnic and the kids thought that pizza in the park was a really fun idea.  They all ate great, and had a blast playing with one another for two hours straight.  We had to drag them back to the car when the adults wanted to go home.

It was a great way to let the kids interact with one another, enjoy the beautiful summer weather, and for us adults to touch base in a busy world.

The best part was:  We came home to a clean kitchen.

My kids love going to the fair.  Make that LOVE!!!!!  They love the rides, the cotton candy, the games, the petting zoos, the slushies, everything about it.

I really enjoy it too.  I think they are a huge money grab for parents.  By the time you pay for admission, ride tickets, and get suckered into playing games for dollar store prizes, you are nearly broke.  However, I grew up in a very small town, and there was nothing much to do.  Once a year the Fair would come into town and we would all flock there to see everything and everybody.

Last year we entered my oldest daughter’s crafts into my hometown fair.  She won a 4th prize.  We were so happy to get a ribbon.  Mainly, we had so much fun making the craft and entering it, we decided to do it again. 

We recently entered two of her crafts into a local fair.  The prizes are just a couple of dollars, but just to have the recognition and the ribbon…..is enough to feel great.  We went to the fair over the weekend to see her crafts being displayed.  There before our eyes, were two little 1st prize ribbons.  Wow!!!  What a feeling!!!!!  After all of that hard work on a rainy day, it really paid off.  However, the most important thing was that it was really fun, quality time.  I don’t even think my daughter really understands what 1st prize is.  And ofcourse, every child gets a ribbon just for participating.

After seeing her crafts on display, we proceeded to spend lots of money going on rides and playing games, but even better…….I will be able to put a wonderful craft and ribbon in my daughter’s memory box for her to view years from now.

Its not the winning at the finish line…..its how you get there.

Today I was one of those moms you see in the grocery store, or anywhere for that matter.  I was the one with the kids she couldn’t control.  My kids are usually okay in public, but today they were out of control.

I went to Costco to pick up some of my staples.  For some strange reason, I thought taking two kids with me was a good idea.  I was wrong.

From the moment we started driving there, my toddler would scream at me if I changed the radio station.  We get to Costco, and I put both kids in the cart.  Apparently a toddler and a preschooler should not be in such tight quarters.

They started shoving each other as I am walking down the aisle.  The little one is screaming no, no, no, nooooo.  The older one is shouting stop, stop, STOP.  The infamous “Mommy, she’s bugging me” comes into play.

I tell the kids I will need to separate them, I tell them to stop, no matter what I tell them, they look at me and burst into laughter.  I never realized I was that funny.

As if it couldn’t get any worse, they decided to start shooting their tongues so that they were spraying spit over one another….and giggling up a storm because shooting saliva is apparently very funny to kids.

At this point, I can feel the eyes of adults around me, and yes….even other kids.  And the other kids were looking on not to say “wow, that looks like fun” but they looked as though they were thinking “what is wrong with them”.  At that moment I just wanted to crawl in a big hole and hide as I realized I was one of those parents in the store that you look at and think “Can’t she control her kids?”.

As we walked to the cash, my little monsters suddenly turned into little angels as they started trying to charm the cashier.  Yes, ofcourse making me feel silly for thinking to myself my kids were totally out of control. 

All in all, it was an exhausting outing, and I am taking comfort in the fact that they are having a nap.  Yes, nap time is wonderful.

My husband and I have not been out on very many dates since the birth of our first daughter four years ago.  I have always been that mom who is a major worry wart and is afraid to leave my kids with other people.  I know some people may think its silly, but its just the way I am.

Now that my kids are 4 and almost 2, they are not as dependent as they once were, and they are able to speak up for themselves.  I started realizing that they are no longer infants, and that it was time for my husband and I to have an overnight date night.  We have gone out for dates here and there, but never overnight.

Our sixth wedding anniversary was last weekend so I decided that would be a perfect time to have our date night.  My mom came by to watch the kids, and they had an absolute blast with Grandma.  It doesn’t make you feel too guilty when they are giggling and waving “bye” as you leave out the door.

We went for coctails first, then we went out for some tasty ribs at a local restaurant.  After that, we went to a wine-tasting bar and tasted some wines we had wanted to try.  After that, we went for some dessert at a specialty place that only serves cakes and pies.  Yummy!!!!  We then retired back to our nice room, and the next morning was a wonderful brunch.  It was so nice to just sleep in, climb out of bed and not have to schedule my morning shower, and then go down for a great all you can eat brunch and not have to listen to  “Mommeeeeee, more toast” or “I don’t like that, yuck”.

And the best part of the date night, was coming home to kids that were shrieking in delight to see their parents.

Take time for yourself, and for your relationship, to remember who you were before you became the wonderful selfless parents that you are.

The other week, I was complaining to my husband that I almost wish we didn’t have a pool.  Between keeping it clean, buying the chemicals, and now probably having to replace the liner, all I saw was a money pit and a bunch of hassle. 

The other day it was soooo hot.  I mean, I took the kids to the park, the swing seats were hot, the slide was hot, and after a half an hour they wanted to go home.  We went in the morning so it wouldn’t be too humid, and so that the UV wouldn’t be too high.  Unfortunately, it was one of those days when it was hot from the moment you woke up. 

We got home, we stripped down to our swimsuits, slapped on the sunscreen and hopped in the pool.  Wow, did that feel refreshing.  A few people surrounding me have pools also and they were all in their pools at that time as well.  The sweet sound of children laughing, splashing, and watching beach balls fly in the air was very relaxing. 

After all of my grumbling the previous week about the hassle and cost of owning a pool, I realized the simple pleasures also associated with it.  A girl at work told me that “I couldn’t imagine growing up without a pool.  We always had one” and I realized how lucky my children were.  Not only is a pool fun, but its a great way to practice how to swim; an important means of survival.  I also thought back to my own childhood…..we never had a pool but my grandparents had a cottage that we would go to.  Those memories were some of the best memories I can think of in my childhood.  Collecting shells along the beach, swiming in the water, going for boat rides, and roasting marshmallows and hotdogs on the campfire.

Thinking back, it made me realize I have to sometimes think through the eyes of my children.  We get so caught up in a stressful adult life, complaining about money or time that we don’t have, that we lose touch of the simple pleasures that life brings us.

Enjoy the simple things in life.

Today, as I am watching the television, I see the thousands of people coming together at the Staples Centre to pay tribute to Michael Jackson.  On top of that, the millions of people worldwide tuning in to the television to pay tribute to the King of Pop.

I find myself sad as I say goodbye to Someone, Something, that reperesents part of my own childhood.  As parents, we all try and shape our childrens’ lives the best we can.  A certain smell, taste, song, can bring back memories from the past, from our childhood.  My daughters scream in delight when they hear “Pink” , “Miley Cyrus” or “Taylor Swift” come on the radio.

For me, that icon during childhood was Michael Jackson.  I can remember boys at school doing the “Moon Walk” to try and be like him; wearing the “glove” or leather jacket.  I grew up to music videos with “Beat It” and “Thriller” and watched his incredible dance moves.

Over the years I was there watching as his face transformed, and watched him battle criminal charges against him and public scrutiny over balcony incidents and other things.

Regardless of some of the negative publicity Michael Jackson recieved, for me,  when I think back on my childhood, I can remember Michael Jackson’s music and influence and a smile comes to my face.  He changed the music industry, and deserves the title, the King of Pop.

I sit here and I am heartbroken watching his little daughter speak at his memorial service.  She tells thousands of people that her daddy was the best dad in the world and that she loves him.  After this, she walks off the stage in tears.  How heartbreaking.  As a mother, this just brings tears to my eyes.  No child should have to endure such pain.

Children should have a world full of hope, happiness and laugher where the world is their oyster.

Think about a person, a song, a taste,  or a smell that brings you back to childhood; where the world was a totally different place.