Coffee and Creativity

Parenthood is messy, tiring, exhausting (yes … there’s a difference between tiring and exhausting), educational, loving, and transitional. All of my 31 years have been full of trying to learn as much as I can, grow as much as I can, expand as much as I can, and grow up as much as I can. Needless to say, parenthood has continued the trend.

From elementary school to college, single life to marriage, coloring to working …this old soul has always been on the go, trying to grasp onto amazing moments and pack my mind full of knowledge. Throw a kid into the mix and I’ve encountered a whole new self.

What is one of the most amazing parts about parenthood? It has given me the chance to slow down … a bit. Yes, I’m still always on the go since it’s very difficult for me to sit still. I always have an agenda as I try to cross off as many “to do” items on my list as I can throughout the day. I’m not wired to have patience for relaxation.

Even though my son looks like a miniature version of my husband, he definitely has my sense of non-stop, always on the go, can’t sit still personality. That’s one of the reasons why I live for our mornings together. From the moment he wakes up to the moment he takes his first nap, those few hours are filled with moments that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

Those hours take me back to my childhood as I eat breakfast with him, read him books, chase him around the house, color with him, put together puzzles, and teach him words. Yes, there are items on my household and work “to do” lists that try to distract me. Sometimes he helps me take care of the laundry, clean the floors, and dust … it’s never too early to start, right? But when we’re not tackling those household tasks together, we are playing to our hearts’ content.

Childhood should be full of creativity and fun, playtime and adventure, memories and moments. So, put down your phone, set aside your computer, turn off the television and play. Get down on the floor and color. Splash around in the kiddie pool with your kids. Chase the kids around the home.

Thanks to parenthood, I’ve developed a whole new sense of patience, playfulness, and creativity. Oh, and a greater appreciation of coffee. Because, let’s face it, coffee and creativity go hand-in-hand for us parents, right?

What are your favorite toddler games?