Becoming a Fun Mom

Know how you come up with a great response to someone -- an hour after the conversation ends? This occurs to me regularly after a speaking engagement.  Last week's was with a wonderful group of ladies at SVEFC, where I encouraged them to find ways to be a Fun Mom.  A day later my mind is filled with ideas that I forgot to mention, so I thought I'd post them here for any of you with ankle biters who need some inspiration.

If you have a child, you have a Resident Expert On Fun.  It's what children live for, it's how they learn, it's what makes them such a joy and at times such a nuisance.  Moms, we would do well to follow their lead every once in awhile.  And contrary to what you might be thinking, you don't have to neglect all that is necessary and wise in raising children to have fun with them; you just have to learn how to have fun while actually *doing* all those important tasks.  In fact, once you're a Certified Fun Mom, I think you'll agree with me that having fun actually makes your job that much easier!

So here are some ordinary chores and routines and ways to add some fun to the mix while you do them:

Meals

Meals have endless opportunity for fun, simply because you have a whole variety of dishes at your disposal.  Let the kids set the table using the dishes in your china cabinet -- and don't give them any instructions.  They will amaze you with their creativity and the job will be done with no whining!  We have eaten entrees off of platters, emptied juice boxes into wine glasses and used pickle forks and baby food spoons.  Let them raid the cooking utensil drawer, too; there's nothing more fun than watching Dad eating spaghetti with tongs.

Shish kebob sticks are a great way to get kids excited about eating, especially when they don't like what's put before them.  Throw some on the table and let kids design their own bobs. Toothpicks work just as well.

Colored meals are a hit in my home, usually on Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day with a bit of ingenuity and some food coloring.

Our family tradition during dinner is for each person to share three things:  the best event of the day, the worst event of the day, and a "Jesus thing."  (Something they are thankful for, something God helped them with, or a way God spoke to their heart that day.)  These sharing times have become very precious to me and I've discovered really amazing things about my kids through them.  They also give me great insight into what my kids are dealing with and how to pray for them.

Bath Time

Kids who weren't so excited about bath time at my house were allowed to sit on the edge of the tub soaking their feet while I read them a short book.  By the time we were done reading, they were almost always all the way in.  Throw your measuring cups at them and any other small containers you have on hand.  Go through their plastic animals and sort them into baggies, then have a "frog bath" one night and a "duck bath" the next.  Shaving cream is a huge hit in our home; it suds up like no bubble bath can and is great for body painting.

Picking up the House

Give every kid a laundry basket and tell them they have two minutes to pick up anything of theirs that isn't where it belongs.  Give some kind of reward to the kid who collects the most stuff or to everyone who collects at least 20 items.

Laundry

Getting your kids involved in this chore is going to take patience because you can do it so much more quickly on your own, but now is the time to teach them because young children are usually eager to help at this stage.  Teach kids the types of loads you normally run (whites, colors, permanent press) and have them sort.  Even better -- stand with your arms held out in a circle and see if they can make baskets through your arms while they throw clothes in piles.  Of course, do this only if you are willing to get hit in the face with dirty underwear once or twice!  Or have the kids create the "baskets" and you do the sorting.  Our family always yells out the load name while throwing each piece -- something like a cheer.  "White!  Permanent Press!  Reds!  Darks!"  Let kids measure detergent and pour, and if you're feeling especially silly, let your kids sit on top of the washing machine during a spin cycle.  Don't ask me for any ways to make putting laundry away fun, though, because I haven't discovered any!  Add a comment if you have any ideas!

Bedtime

Bedtime is incredibly easy to fun-up.  Instead of sending your kids upstairs to put on jammies, give them a theme for their dreams.  "Tonight I think you should dream about fairies.  To make it easier, why don't you go to bed in fairy clothes."  Every house I know of has some kind of dress-up clothes,  and you can always set a timer and give them five minutes to surprise you with their choices.  I know, I know, some of you are thinking that they will make a mess in the process, and that their clothes will be totally inappropriate for sleeping.  Talk yourself off the ledge, Mom, if it scratches or is pokey in the night, they will take it off!

Have a Backwards Night and let your kids sleep with their head at the foot end of the bed.

Take every spare pillow you can find in the house and let them make a nest on the floor. (My favorite place to sleep as a kid was in the closet!)

Give them five extra minutes to arrange every single stuffed animal they own around the perimeter of their bed.  Five extra minutes of fun at bedtime is worth it when your kids go to sleep smiling instead of being yelled at by Angry Mom.

Miscellaneous Fun

Institute a No Talking Day.  This doesn't mean you can't communicate, it just means that everything anyone wants to say will have to be sung.  (Do not expect your husband to participate willingly.  It may be helpful to quietly sing in his ear what you are willing to do after the kids are in bed if he chooses to be Fun Dad instead of Rolling His Eyes Constantly Dad.)

Backwards Days are a big hit in my home, which can be as simple as reversing the order of meals.  Kids will love putting on their clothes backwards and even walking backwards if you are a good sport.

Being a Fun Mom doesn't mean neglecting what needs to be done in your home, it just means finding fun ways to do your regular tasks.  The payoff is not only for your children, it's for you, too!

"Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.... Her children arise and call her blessed."   Proverbs 31:25, 28

Or, if they are three years old, they might simply say, "I have fun with you, Mommy!"