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Learning to Play Again

I’d like to start again.

But I’m not sure how, or where to begin.

I’ve been gone for so long, it’s difficult to jump right back into where I left off.

When I stepped away from the blog in April, I was beginning a new journey.  I had a new baby and my family was starting on a new adventure.  Since I left so much has changed.  J celebrated his 3rd birthday, Baby E is now half a year old, and we live in a totally new house, city, and state. 

Things are different, I’m different, my family’s different.  During this time, I’ve been able to take a step back and really think about how I parent and how the blog influences how I parent.

You see, before I left, the blog influenced my day a lot.  Every morning I’d get up and think about the activities I wanted to do with J.  I’d scour the internet looking for great play ideas so that I could switch them up some to make them unique for my blog.  Often time these “fun” activities would fail or J would not be interested.  I tried to not care, but I did.  Playing turned into work, and  I was getting tired.  Burnt out even. 

I knew something had to change.  With our big move looming in the future, and adjusting to a new baby, I needed a break.  I needed a change.

I took a step back and I set out to find a new, better normal for my family.  I needed to play again, not only for J, but for me too.

Every morning I’d wake up and think, “I wonder what new experience J will teach me today”.  I let him lead and trusted him to show me the way back to playfulness. Together, we got lost in the Island of Sodor where we helped Thomas deliver presents to the happy children.  We found treasure outside in the garden where roly polys were kings.  We laughed and got soaked in the falling rain and ran in the sunshine.  Together we created new foods like Honey Squares, and we baked bread together.  Every day I marveled in his wisdom and ever expanding imagination. 

With J as my teacher, he healed and showed me a new way.  He brought be back to where I once was, when play itself could make me happy.   He showed me that you don’t need a bunch of invitations to play or planned out activities to have a fantastic time.

Through J, I was reminded how to enjoy the pure pleasure and sweetness of a child’s play.  He brought sunshine back into my life. 

With that said…this blog may look a bit different than it did before.  I would like to be more authentic with you and to share more of my adventures, feelings, and thoughts with you.  I hope that I can continue to inspire you and learn from you.  Here’s the future!

Remember that I’m on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest all the time, so I’d love it if you joined me there.  I’m working on figuring out the whole Google+ thing and I’ll be there soon too!

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by Amanda 15 Comments

Filed Under: Family & Motherhood, Parenting, Play Tagged With: Parenting

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cathy @ NurtureStore

    July 24, 2013 at 3:51 pm

    Lovely to see you back 🙂

    Reply
    • Amanda

      July 24, 2013 at 7:37 pm

      Thanks Cathy! It’s good to be back!

      Reply
  2. Kara Campbell

    July 24, 2013 at 3:57 pm

    I really like this post. I am going through the same thing, not sure if I’ll pick up blogging again or not. One thing I have noticed is the blog continues to get lots of traffic even since I stopped a few months back. It is nice to look at all the post you did do and it feels good that they will continue to inspire others as new readers stumble across them 🙂 Kara of karasclassroom.com

    Reply
    • Amanda

      July 24, 2013 at 6:32 pm

      I really debated coming back myself. I even thought about deleting the whole thing. Then I noticed that it was still getting lots of traffic and that deleting it probably wasn’t the best idea. I hope that I will do a better job of not letting the blog influence my life as much as it did. We’ll see, but I’m confident that I can figure it out. I do love blogging and am not really ready to stop.

      I hope that you figure out how to make your blog work in your life. I have read it and love it!

      Reply
  3. Kim @ The Educators' Spin On It

    July 24, 2013 at 7:26 pm

    Glad to see you back! Can’t wait to see the new perspectives you’ve gained with taking a step back and living in the moments.

    Reply
    • Amanda

      July 24, 2013 at 7:37 pm

      Thanks Kim! I’m interested to see how thinks will go too 🙂

      Reply
  4. Heather Ruppel

    July 24, 2013 at 8:48 pm

    This is a great “re-starter” post, honesty and authenticity are always valued.

    Reply
    • Amanda

      July 25, 2013 at 1:57 am

      Thanks Heather. So very glad to be back with a new outlook.

      Reply
  5. Jenna Caldwell

    July 25, 2013 at 1:13 am

    I’m super glad you’re doing it again! I think being authentic is rare and I’m hard pressed to find it. I followed you before, but I’m putting you at the top of my list and excited to see this new start!
    You’ll be inspiring my authenticity and honesty over at http://casualhomeschool.blogspot.com
    Thanks for being so transparent!

    Reply
    • Amanda

      July 25, 2013 at 1:57 am

      Thanks Jenna! I hope I don’t disappoint!

      Reply
  6. Lainey

    July 25, 2013 at 7:26 am

    So pleased I liked your Facebook page yesterday, I’m a childminder in the UK and have two young children myself. I’ve been re-thinking for a while that I make things way too complicated trying to provide wow activities for the children which sometimes they aren’t too bothered about. Back to basics keeps running through my head and getting back to good old fashioned play and fun. I look forward to reading your blog.

    Reply
    • Amanda

      July 27, 2013 at 1:30 am

      Thanks for the like Lainey! I think I’ve learned the hard way to just keep things simple. J and I are both happier this way. Thank you so much for reading and good luck changing some things up!

      Reply
  7. Making Memories in the Chaos

    July 25, 2013 at 7:40 am

    Hi there. Lovely to see you back blogging again. I have just started a blog this week – eeek! And am so wary of it ‘taking over’ and me forgetting why I started it in the first place. So good to read your post this morning and remember sometimes it is the simple things in life which are the best! I’m looking forward to seeing your journey back 🙂

    Reply
    • Amanda

      July 27, 2013 at 1:33 am

      Hey there! Blogging is absolutely all about finding a balance. I’ve been blogging for a year and a half, and I’m still figuring out to incorporate it in my real life. It’s getting much better though. Good luck, and please contact me if you ever have any blogging questions…I’m always willing to help!

      Reply
  8. Cajun Cowgirl

    August 8, 2013 at 12:37 pm

    Such a great post! I think I found (and sometimes still find) myself in the same situation and have to tell myself to step back and let him initiate good old fashioned play. I don’t always have to create it!

    Reply

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