A great day

"I had a great day today, Mom."  That's what Grayson said after I tucked him in tonight.  I cannot tell you how fulfilled that sentence makes me feel. 

I have made some changes in our house without telling anyone.  After our morning TLC cartoons, I am switching off the set for the rest of the day.  You know the best thing about it?  Grayson hasn't even noticed!  We made a trip to the library yesterday and checked out The BFG by Roald Dahl, and we are already halfway through it.  Everytime we have a few minutes to sit, Grayson brings me the book and asks for a chapter. 

We also did this:

I totally swiped this idea from a friend who had her children make a "city" outside with chalk.  Since it's a bajillion degrees in Alabama right now, we made ours inside!  Grayson had soo much fun with this one.  I think his favorite part was making my cars wait for his train to pass.  :) 

My strategy so far is, whenever he asks to watch tv, I suggest something fun to do together, or I break out our new "dangerous book"  and we learn a new skill from it.  I think we are all happier and more fulfilled for finally switching off the ol' telly.

Comments

[Kathy]

I love the city idea, I'll be stealing that tomorrow;) I've heard about and read some reviews of the 'dangerous' book,it's definately on my list of books to buy!

[Expat Mom]

Good for you! I can´t wait to start reading chapter books to Dorian. My mom did that with us right up to high school and I absolutely loved it!

I want to get a copy of the dangerous book, too, but Amazon charges an arm and a leg to ship down here. Maybe when my sister comes down to visit . . .

[Jessica Keith]

Hey y'all. I got my copy at Costco, believe it or not. I know that doesn't exactly help you out, Genesis, but it was only thirteen bucks there. Our city is still on the table two days later, btw!

[foolery]

Two things:

My brothers and I had a roll of newsprint Mom got from the local newspaper (they sold their end rolls for very cheap) and we'd tear off a big hunk and put it on the kitchen table. We'd sit around drawing planets and space ships, mount attacks on each other (all with pencil drawings), put up crazy "billboard signs," etc. Many in-jokes came of it that we still tease each other with.

AND . . . my dad used to read old World War II stories to us as TEENAGERS! A chapter a night (#0 Seconds Over Tokyo, Tora Tora Tora, etc.) some of my favorite memories!

[Jessica K]

That's great. I love to think we'll still be doing that when they're teenagers. I hope we will anyway!