Lynda Loveland: Everybody in

By Lynda Loveland

Posted: April 11, 2012

This past weekend, we all went up to Virginia to see my husband’s parents.

I think it’s so important for my kids to spend as much time as possible with their grandparents. I thought the long weekend would be a perfect opportunity. Little did I know, I would be the one who benefited most.

I’ve been trying to spend more quality one-on-one time with each of my kids. That’s been my goal. But I was missing the big picture. While one-on-one time is valuable, so is family time. When we’re home, there’s always practice or homework or playdates or games or chores or or or or or. It goes on and on.

While we were together as a family, we weren’t BEING a family. We watch movies together, go places together, but it’s not the same.

Over the weekend, with nothing specific to do and nowhere specifically to be, we played together as a family. We ALL played soccer and we ALL played baseball … together. We dog piled, we tackled and we laughed. And in the middle of all of it, I found myself smiling. A big, ear to ear, heart feels light and happy, kind of smile.

It’s time to stop and smell the roses. Their names are Campbell, Caiden and Carys.

What’s your favorite thing to do as a family?

Lynda is the mom of three and co-host of Mix 101.5 WRAL-FM's Bill & Lynda in the Morning. Find her here on Thursdays. Click here to like her on Facebook.

9 Comments

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We would stay up till the wee hours playing board games and card games. The best time I can remember is when my younger son 9 at the time won a hard battled game of Monolopy with only owning the red (next to free parking) properties :-)

jebar
April 12, 2012 8:52 a.m.

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This past weekend my husband, 6 year old son and I went to Topsail Island and cleaned the yard at our beach retreat. We picked up pine cones and twigs and trimmed hedges while looking for caterpillars, bugs and lizards. Our son was mesmerized by the amount of critters and flowers and especially the venus fly trap we saw on the property. On Easter Sunday after visiting with family, we bought some cheap kites and all went kite flying together. The weather was gorgeous and it was so much fun doing something so *simple.* No soccer game, no birthday party, no Cub Scouts. Just Mama, Daddy and our sweet son. It was the best weekend that I have had in a very long time. My husband and I have decided that when things start getting too hectic, we will remember this Easter weekend and the sheer look of bliss on our son's face. We WILL do this again soon.

MyKidRox
April 12, 2012 8:53 a.m.

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My mom never let us "run" in the house but now I am married and have a daughter of my own...that is our play area. We play tag your it, dance together and most of all laugh like crazy! I cherish these moments everyday!!

snjmedlin
April 12, 2012 9:10 a.m.

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I LOVE spending time with my kids - I have a 13 yr old, 11 yr old & 6 yr old - I enjoy hanging out as a family - it is refreshing when you have those TRUE family times - this past weekend we had that experience when went and spent a couple of days in Cherokee, NC camping along with just sitting by the river getting our feet wet, watching the ducks and just enjoying each others company - I totally agree as a mom nothing like the feeling of totally enjoying being with your kids and their company

katizs
April 12, 2012 9:23 a.m.

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We like to ride bicycles togather. We recently biked the Creeper Trail in Damascas, Va. It was awesome.

thecatsmeow67
April 12, 2012 11:01 a.m.

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I love just going for walks with my girls, they love to point out all the different plants, flowers and animals they see. On nice sunny days, we lay a blanket on the front lawn and my girls will read their books to me. Just that quality time is so wonderful.

kellypratz
April 12, 2012 1:16 p.m.

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Last weekend my husband's parents were coming to visit, but ended up unable to come due to illness. With the rest of our family living out of town, it seemed to be quite sad to have a holiday with no family to celebrate with. My husband suggested we go out to lunch and then we went to buy a new board game. Needless to say, many hours were spent last weekend sitting in the middle of the living room floor laughing as we played Headbandz. Hysterical game played with a 9-yr-old and 6-yr-old. Combined with a blessed Easter Sunday, it was a great weekend.

cmk617
April 12, 2012 1:49 p.m.

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how nice...

americaneel
April 12, 2012 5:38 p.m.

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you ever notice from the pic that she looks like Jennifer Lopez

americaneel
April 12, 2012 5:39 p.m.

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