Drink water straight out of the garden hose!

This video is everything I am for and about.....simplicity, strength of character, accountability, and authenticity. 

Aside from my kid having the sugary sodas on a regular basis, um, no.  Sorry, any fizzy drink that is used to clean blood off a highway isn't going in my babies body if I can help it. But aside from that, I agree with this videos ethics. I think we should all go back to what I call Old School Parenting. 

Drinking out of the garden hose, reading a book, drawing with crayons on paper and staying outside and playing until the streetlamps are on....

That is how I roll. This is how I want to raise my Maxwell. 

Because childhood should be simple. Right now I think there are just too many choices, toys, IPads, cell phones. My son has a Leap Pad Ultra and all these electronic toys….and I give him time limits. Time limits on the television. He's 20 months old…but I'm already seeing that I have to pull in the reigns on this electronic age….take him outside, playing in the park and in the dirt with other kids. 

I know its a sign of the times, and we all have to adapt a little, but I feel like the simpler the better. My childhood was filled with imagination, exploration, hiking, camping, dance class, music class....you name it. I rarely was inside playing on a computer or a video game...and when I was it was for a brief time with my friends or siblings. 

There is an isolation that is happening with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. I mean look at me right now? Blogging for god sake. Up on my soap box about how things should be simpler, less electronic….on an electronic thing. Staring at a screen.  

But let's not get off base here. ;) 

My friends and family will tell you this. I make an effort to have face time with people. Not IPhone Face Time, but sit down, have a meal, chat and laugh time. Its important to physically interact with your friends and family often. Facebook, Twitter, texting, and all should be to keep abreast on what friends are doing, but not replace your time with them. 

And if this is what WE the adults are doing....no wonder the kids are following suit. They don't know any better. They don't know about the garden hose. 

So, let's lead by example shall we? Kids do what we do. So next time you feel like you are on overload of "electronica". Stop, Drop and Roll. Do nothing, breathe deep, get out in the sun and take a walk, play in the park, get dirty (you know what I mean…but you can do that too!) just get away from our computer, tablets, and IPhones….and yes, maybe even drink out of the garden hose. 

It tastes good.

xo
M