The great thing about being "no-fun-mom" is...

[battlemaiden]

When you actually muster up the gumption to do something....You are a hero!

 

It was pathetic how happy and thankful my littles were when I let them paint in the garage today. My 4yo kept saying, "thank you so much mommy". :D I'm more of a washable marker, crayon, color pencil type of person.

 

I may bring out a board game later and blow their minds. :D

 

Jo

[Snickerdoodle]

I was just thinking the same thing today when I let mine clean up the styrofoam popcorn that came with some boxes today. They were so excited they brought out the tupperware and playmobile to create adventures. :D

[WTMCassandra]

:lol::lol::lol:

 

Yes, when my DH was on travel this week, I did a couple of special things and they were floored. I let them pick out ice cream and yogurt at the store, I had a movie night, and we played homeschoolopoly several nights (one big long game). They were beside themselves with awe.

 

My other big accomplishment for the week was letting them draw big gaudy pictures with colored chalk on our patio (I don't normally allow them to draw there in my "outdoor living room") because I knew it would rain that night.:D

[BMW]

I remember doing things like that, too...

 

Life was routine and scheduled, very few times we had company.

 

Then, we'd have a medieval fiest with friends and have a fabulous day.

 

Then, we had a cowboy day and used a neighbor's well behaved horse for horse rides... that's a hard one to follow up!

 

They love these memories.

 

As I look forward to bringing several home to homeschool, I imagine the joy they will have when we stop and spend a day at the imaginarium or museums!

[muffinmom]

I'm the same way. I'm a mom who dread projects and things requiring "supplies" or "set-up"--ugh.

 

So my sweet, deprived children are ever so grateful when Mom comes through.:D

[athena1277]

I'm not an arts-craftsy type person. We occasionally do art, but not much. Due to being on a gluten-free diet, my dd(6) has never, ever played with play-doh (it's made with wheat-flour). I've been promising for weeks to make some GF play-doh. I finally did it today. I had to add more cornstarch 4 times to get it to quit being soupy, but it eventually became dough consitency. She was thrilled! She was so happy and I felt so bad that I hadn't done it years ago. :sad:

[Snickerdoodle]

I don't feel guilty about not doing lots of arts and crafts. I'm the mom that lets my kids roll in the mud. I let them have good old-fashioned fun in the mud, with sticks, stones and other debris, puddles, tree climbing, etc.

 

That's how I justify it to myself anyways.

[Sharon H in IL]

I have to guiltily say I see myself in your post, Battlemaiden. Being a No-Fun Mom is our reality, but every so often we can break out of our comfort zone and make it happen! :D

Edited March 6, 2009 by Sharon H in IL
I called Battlemaiden Battlemom. Freudian slip? Perhaps.

[Storm Bay]

Absolutely. When my kids get to paint, they'll do it all day they're so happy.

[BakersDozen]

lol, are you my secret twin, Battlemaiden?? Your post describes me even down to painting in the garage! Love how our dc are the same ages, too! Good for you for making that memory for them. :001_smile:

[flyingmommy]

Sad but true, my dds were thrilled when we went outside for "recess" the other day. I played Red Light, Green Light and Simon Says with them and they were just beside themselves.

 

J

[Colleen]

You know this non-artsy/craftsy mom is right there with you.:D Now, in my defense I play board games on a frequent basis, but cooking together, crafting, and a whole slew of other things that my guys would no doubt enjoy doing more often are w-a-a-a-ay down on the frequency meter. When Luke turned 9 in January his greatest wish was to choose a meal and help cook it. He was in seventh heaven, chopping and stirring and so on. And now he can look forward to doing it again next year.;)

[elise1mds]

I'm not an artsy-craftsy person, either, but my kids just die of happiness when I pull out the (washable) window markers and let them go to town on the completely-wipeable vinyl windows in the dining room. Or when I sit down and do puzzles or play board games with them. I think if we did things like that whenever they wanted, though, nothing would be as memorable or special! That's what I tell myself, anyway.

[KidsHappen]

I'm not an artsy craftsy kind of mom either but somewhere along the lines my kids just quit asking and starting doing things of their own accord. Now I have paint splattered walls :glare:, various decorating treatments in their rooms (they have stripped and stained furniture, hung shelves, etc.), sewing and craft projects everywhere (clothes, bedding, curtains) and I find that no only do I not mind, I am sometimes quiet impressed with the results. :)