Lydia J Will: Let Them Be {Mindful Mothering Mondays}

{It's Mindful Mothering Monday! I hope you'll join in with us. Today, I'm linking up an older post, due to a crazy weekend with family in town, celebrating my oldest's birthday! I can't wait to see what you've got for us this morning.}

**************************

Yesterday I had the privilege of watching a friend's little ones for the morning. After just a few minutes inside the house, everyone was ready to head outdoors and explore. I was more than happy to let them free in the yard, keeping an eye out from my perch on the deck.

I've always been a laid back Mama, but the more years I get under my belt, the more laid back I get (about certain things.). One of those areas is in letting kids play - whatever that looks like.

Real, authentic play is real, authentic learning. My one year old charge settled himself comfortably nearby a mud puddle and lobbed a few rocks in. Noticing a splotch of mud on his finger, he went in for a taste. Next thing I knew, he was completely in the mud puddle, joyously splashing. Perfect.

The bigger kids ran to and fro, discovering spiders making their homes in the corners of the yard; creating mini "fairy houses" out of sticks, rocks and leaves. Playing. Imagining. Discovering. Unencumbered.

When evaluating whether or not to intervene with kids' play, I ask myself the following:

Is it hurting anything? Destructive play is not ok with me, so I will intervene if someone is breaking something.

Is it safe? If there is no imminent danger to the child or anyone else, I let them be.

I want my kids to be able to explore, to experience the world around them and to learn in the purest, most natural way possible. As a result, I don't make a big deal about clothing for them (it helps to have a good "play clothes" wardrobe so I'm not upset if something gets ruined!). Does letting my kids play in this manner make more work for me? In some ways, yes. More baths, more laundry. But I wouldn't want to inhibit their learning for my convenience.

Today is another beautiful day. Childhood is calling, and its not a clean little package of sweet smelling loveliness. It is caked with dirt, stacked high with sticks, stuck all over with popsicle juice and covered with a layer of finger paint. Taking a deep breath, pouring another cup of coffee and letting them get out in it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Won't you join in?

Mindful Mothering Mondays. A day to take a deep breath and write out your mothering journey, whatever form it takes. A day to link up for encouragement from others who are in this same phase of life. A day of writing out the trials and triumphs and what you're learning right where you are, right now.

You might post recent struggles or thoughts. Maybe just a picture or a quote. Or maybe you'll just come here and read the links that others post. Whatever form your participation takes, this is a day for you.
We are all in this, together. Together, we can encourage and build one another up, be honest with our shortcomings and strengthened by community to keep fighting the good fight.

I chose Mondays because what Mama doesn't need a little encouragement on a Monday? As such, I'll have the link up ready to go on Sunday night for you to begin submitting your links.

I hope you'll meet with me each Monday! Here's what to do ~

Link up your post below. Remember to put the link to the exact post you want to link, and not just your blog url. Include in your post a link back here so others who want to join in can find us! And visit some other Mamas who have linked up.

Post the community graphic within your post, so people who are reading your Mindful Mothering post can come back here and find the rest of us!

Invite the writers of your favorite blogs to join in!

Share this meme with others on facebook and twitter. This community is for all moms, and the more that participate, the more we will be able to enjoy!

Grab the graphic here:

7 comments:

Kim July 16, 2012 at 10:42 AM
So very true. Looks like a lot of fun was had in that mud :)
Tyler and AubreyJuly 16, 2012 at 12:03 PM
I recently wrote something similar. I have an active 2 year old boy that loves to get dirty and sometimes I find myself preventing him from getting into mud, etc. But this is a perfect reminder of just how much fun it is to get dirty when you're a little and just how much they're actually learning!
KyndraJuly 16, 2012 at 2:07 PM
And that is why my yard is the messiest and the coolest yard in the neighborhood and why I can never find any of my tools! F (5) and Su (4) are constantly rearranging their side of the yard, adding scraps of wood to the playhouse, and so on. We did the same thing when we were growing up, but compressing their range from the 40 acres we had to a tiny city backyard also compresses the mess! Oh well, at least they know how to use hand tools safely!...K
DanielleJuly 16, 2012 at 2:38 PM
I just read an article that children need to ingest some dirt for selenium and iron and such. Keep up the good work!
AnonymousJuly 18, 2012 at 12:26 PM
So enjoying my Mondays because of this link--or Wednesday in my case . . .