Capturing Magic Moments
Being the Fun Mom
Too often I feel like I’m the “stressed mom,” the “rushed mom,” or the “grouchy mom,” when I really want to be the “fun mom” more often. I hate that life is so busy that I miss out on some of the “good stuff” – the fun times – with my kids…then that makes me feel guilty because I should be having more fun with my family…and then I get mad because who can be fun when they’re so busy feeling guilty?
So, I made a resolution. I’m going to be the “fun mom” at least once a day. I wish I could promise to be fun more often, (and sometimes I am), but between homework, meals, clean-up, track practice, piano lessons, nighttime baths and the million other things that need to get done, fun can be the last thing on my mind.
My solution is to get intentional about fun. I set the goal of creating or capturing at least one “magic moment” per day.
What qualifies as a magic moment?
A magic moment is a moment when everything stops and I am completely present with my kids. I’m not responding to a text or checking Facebook notifications. I’m not thinking about my to-do list or about what’s for dinner.
A magic moment is a moment of joy. A moment of giggles and giddiness. It’s a moment when worries disappear. In a magic moment, you don’t care what you look like or who is watching.
Magic moments are the “good stuff” when it comes to being a mom.
Not Every Moment Is Magic
Now, every moment can’t be a magic moment. I get it. After all, life is busy and the laundry isn’t going to wash itself, (we can always dream.) But even when I’m at my busiest, I can make time for a “moment” and there’s freedom in that. Because if I can focus on one single magic moment per day, then I don’t have to feel guilty about all the “not so magic” moments that crowd our day.
Perhaps this doesn’t apply to you. Maybe you are the “fun mom” and you could write a book on avoiding stress and laughing more often. If so, you are doing an amazing thing for your kids that will create lifetime memories. Keep it up!
But if you’re like me, and struggle with the stress and busy-ness of motherhood, maybe these ideas will inspire you to create more magic moments of your own.
5 Everyday Opportunities for Creating Magic Moments
- Join in the fun. Children are magic moments experts. Jump in and join whatever your kids are already doing. If they’re playing Just Dance, jumping on the trampoline, or creating a play dough masterpiece– just stop and have fun. Sometimes I have to remind myself that it’s okay if dinner is fifteen minutes late or if I miss a phone call – this is important too.
- Schedule a date. If you can make it work, trade off with your husband or a friend to babysit so you can take each kid on an individual playdate. You might do this once per month or even every other month – but the point is to schedule it on your calendar and make it a priority. Remember, this does not have to be elaborate. For instance, just recently I helped my son, Ty, create a bug house and then took him on a bug hunt in the backyard. My youngest daughter, Micah, loves art and coloring, so I printed fun coloring pages off the internet and we colored and made an art gallery with our pictures. Taylor, my oldest, is into photography – so I bought disposable cameras and took her to the duck pond for a photo safari. We printed pictures and then made them into photo books. These are simple activities, (and they usually only take 15-30 minutes) but they are really special times with the kids.
- Create a ritual. Every year (starting when my oldest was 2) my husband sets up the living room like a campground the night before Thanksgiving. We get out the blankets and air mattresses and stay up late and watch movies. The next morning we wake up and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade from our beds. Our family campout is a simple ritual, but it’s something my kids look forward to every year.
- Do something unexpected. Have Christmas in July (not the presents – but the activities) and decorate a gingerbread house, read the Christmas story, make homemade Christmas cards/gift tags or ornaments, and bake Christmas goodies. Kids love an excuse to do something normal in a wacky way. Look for opportunities to mix things up.
- Find an excuse to be silly. Our magic moment today happened spontaneously in the car. A fun song came on the radio and we sang at the top of our lungs and “car danced” to the music. We laughed our heads off as we pretended we were rock stars. Magic moment experts know how to seize the moment and create a magic moment on the fly.
Magic moments make love an experience.
And here’s the best news of all: Magic moments breed more magic moments.
The more you focus your attention on creating special moments, the more they just seem to appear… even without trying.
30 Days of Magic
So, I’d like to challenge you to commit to 30 Days of Magic. To participate, all you have to do is create a daily magic moment and make a string of X’s on your calendar for every day that you complete your goal.
I encourage you to make fun a priority and joy a habit. After all, there’s something very liberating about giving yourself permission to create fun on purpose.
We’d love to hear how you create “magic moments” with your children! Please post the results of your challenge below. Let’s inspire each other as we create a magic moment movement one home at a time.
