Day 263
Our kids love to play. Play is messy. Our house and backyard are sometimes messy.
And I am OK with it. I'm often reminded that a cluttered and disorganized house shouldn't automatically equate to laziness. It may just mean lives ae being lived.
I will admit, sometimes seeing the carnage and chaos play can leave in its path can sometimes irritate me and cause me mini anxiety attacks, but overall, I am very happy and proud to know my kids can and do regularly engage in creative, imaginative, and collaborative play. I don't necessarily encourage making messes during play but I also don’t discourage it. It's a silly saying, but it is what it is. Play is not necessarily a clean and simple-minded activity. Often, it is structured in a way that adult minds don't comprehend and as long as there is not a safety issue, we can and should let play’s kid-led structure thrive, even at the expense of some extra cleanup and organization.
More often than I’d probably like to admit, I don't even follow my own advice. I’ve walked into our basement playroom befuddled at what I was seeing. Part of the play process should include cleanup and that is usually the step my kids forget. Similarly, I usually have to recruit my children to take a quick walk through the backyard before I mow the lawn and turn some of their treasures into shrapnel. However, whether inside or outside, I aim to not let the mess bother me and instead focus on the actual playing.
It's not always easy. Finding that delicate balance between allowing spontaneous play and keeping an orderly and organized household doesn't always mesh. Do I wish my kids cleaned up after themselves a little more independently? Of course. Do I allow my need to keep things clean and tidy disrupt the power of play in our lives? I sure hope not.
So the next time you visit Craneview on Plainview and see a backyard full of toys, an odd collection of nature items, and materials being used in different and unusual ways, just know that a family that plays together stays together.
And we like to play!
