Lynda Loveland: Trading places

By Lynda Loveland

Posted: June 1, 2011

Oh, to be a kid again and find total joy, for hours, in a sand crab.

My six-year-old son dug one up at the beach last weekend and he played with that thing for hours! Sure he would take a quick dip in the ocean, fighting waves as Aquaman, but his time was mostly focused on Sam, the sand crab. He’s very proud of it, as you can see from the picture. Lynda Loveland's son

I got to thinking: When was the last time I experienced such great joy over something so simple?

First of all, I normally don’t have the time. And then, what would I do? I love reading. I could do that. But I wouldn’t really call that fun. It’s more like a pastime.

I’m looking for the adult equivalent of what kids do. You know, turning over stones looking for worms, rolling down a grassy hill and jumping in a pile of leaves. Maybe with the hot weather we’re having, I can get everyone on our street to turn on their sprinklers and we can play follow the leader, sprinkler hopping, from house to house! And don’t forget about those big blow up water things too!

I really need to stop multi-tasking and carve out some time for nothing but pure fun! Maybe that’s what we all need. Where’s an ice cream truck when you need it!

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

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flying a kite...I love to have kids fly a kite for the first time. Thanks to all my friends that share their kids with me.

NCishome
June 2, 2011 3:24 p.m.

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Lynda, the adult equivalent is those little things in life. Those would include letters from friends; the unexpected check in the mail; finding a coupon for something you use or consume on a regular basis; beating the red light; fairly inexpensive gas; etc. Happiness is found in little doses throughout the day. Find them and soak them in. It also helps to deal with stress.

LibertarianTechie
June 2, 2011 12:29 p.m.

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How about a slip and slide? We just bought our 5 year old one and I actually got out in the back yard with him this week and we got covered in wet grass! I can't tell you how much fun I had on that stupid thing! And I got totally engorssed in a game of Skee Ball at a beach arcade last weekend. It took me back to my days at White Lake when I was a child playing with my Mom and my big brother. We are all so busy with being moms and career women that we don't take time for the little things. Thanks for bringing it up...we all need to take some time for the little things.

MyKidRox
June 2, 2011 12:11 p.m.

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your new joy was enjoying watching your child's joy! thanks for sharing with us!

tcndc2
June 2, 2011 10:15 a.m.

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Reading a brand new magazine, relaxing in a hot tub, eating chocolate or any dessert for that matter, watching my kids play sports or doing anything that makes them happy, going out to eat,getting mail from friends and sitting on the beach watching and listening to the ocean. I find pure, simple joy in all these things!

shsmith6174
June 1, 2011 11:23 p.m.

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Lynda Loveland: Trading places

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