Backyard Camp Out

Last night I was feeling adventurous, so the kids and I decided to camp outside in our backyard fort. It was 40 degrees, but what the heck. Armed with our new sleeping bags, pillows, and flashlights, we headed out to the fort. We all got cozy and told ghost stories. I think I may have gotten a little carried away with my ghost story about a bobcat and mummies. The kids have been worried about the rumor of a bobcat roaming the woods around our house. Hey, we have wild turkeys, rabbits, deer, skunk, foxes, possums, and squirrels.....so why not a bobcat. My story had the bobcat protecting our fort and keeping the mummies at bay. Nothing too violent or gory, just enough to get the wide eyes and a slight scream when I grabbed their arms. It was all in good fun. It started to pour around midnight, so we got to test the dryness of the fort. The fort leaked alright, but luckily we stayed warm and dry with our waterproof sleeping bags. The best part of the night, snuggling up with my kids. Absolutely priceless. They are only young once, so while they actually still want to cuddle, I will not miss out on the opportunity. So many parents miss out on golden opportunities to have fun spending time with their children. I watch time and time again, parents in a variety of situations, not engaging with their kids. Parents will bask in the sun while their kids are swimming in the pool or building sand castles at the beach. Parents will be on their cell phones, while their children are playing at the park or they refuse to participate in board games or cards with their kids. Too many adults have forgotten what it is like to play and take adulthood way too seriously. The Webster's dictionary describes play to: engage in recreation, frolic and to handle and behave lightly or absentmindedly. Whether you have kids or not, being playful and spontaneous is so important to counter balance all of the responsibilities of being a grown up. Every day should be amusing and joyful in some way. Life is only as heavy and stressful as you make it! "A wise man, recognizing that the world is but an illusion, does not act as if it is real, so he escapes the suffering (Buddha)." Kids live each day in the present moment and if you allow them to, they will always find time to play and enjoy themselves. Last night at dinner, when we were at a Hibachi restaurant, I finally noticed some adults having fun. Unfortunately, it was the adults with Scorpion bowls or numerous drinks whom had smiles on their faces! No surprise there. The lesson......take life and yourself a little less seriously. Get out and play more each and every day, without needing a Scorpion bowl to do it! If your kids ask for a backyard camp out, dig out the sleeping bags and make it happen. Our daily purpose and goal should be to find happiness in all the things that we do. We are off to have more good times together to see the movie, "Where The Wild Things Are." Having fun with my kids always makes me happy. What makes you happy?