There are three of them, one me. Life is moving fast these days, and I often feel like the day is spent in the details. Who has eaten breakfast? Does the youngest have a dirty diaper? Please hurry and put your shoes on! No, we are late, and you have to ride in the stroller to drop off your brother. Can we hit a play date before lunch {Wait, what’s for lunch?} and still be home in time for naps before pickup? Will the oldest have homework? How will I expel that post-school energy while managing the dinner prep? Will they eat dinner? The list goes…on.
I crave time with them when I can really connect. But let’s be real … an afternoon tea party or chatting over a pedicure … not gonna happen! For starters, they aren’t so chatty. Sure, I get the information in bits and pieces throughout the day, sometimes week, but I’m certain boys are indeed wired differently. And on that wiring note, they are more likely to share while we are busy. You can certainly do these activities with several kids at once, but spending some time one-on-one can work wonders for your relationship and often for behavioral issues. And at the end of the day, it just feels good to step away from the busy noise of daily tasks and be with the little, growing people they are. Go ahead and put your iPhones away; keep the memories in your head instead. They won’t have pressure to perform. You don’t have pressure to share your perfect moments with the hundreds of your closest internet friends. Enjoy these 6 fun ways for moms to connect with sons in play that will have you both leaving uplifted.
1} Nerf Dart Guns + Dollar Spot Army Men
Grab an extra cup of coffee, and put your active wear to good use. Our oldest doesn’t nap anymore, so I surprised him on a Sunday afternoon, and instead of my usual {and blessedly solo} grocery trip, I grabbed the Nerf guns and some plastic army men from Target. We positioned them along the fence boards and on the swings, and spent time together making and executing plans of attack. We crouched and sprang into action. We hid extra darts in our socks. We teamed up. We split up. This activity isn’t necessarily something I could set up and play with everyone all at once, and it was nice to have those special moments sneaking around the backyard with the kiddo that made me a mom. We knew the time was carved for each other, and that thought alone made the afternoon a memorable one.
2} Water Gun Fights
You don’t need anything fancy — simple squirt guns will keep you from getting completely soaked! Fill a large bucket {or water table} for an easy refill station, and just have fun. Shoot water, laugh, run, make memories! Prep your dinner beforehand, and spend some after school time together, or get outdoors and manage to keep cool in the summer heat.
3} Change Up the Old Park Routine
Load bikes, trikes, or anything with wheels, in the back of the car and change up your park routine. Pick your favorite park that has a walking path {or even not so busy parking lot} and change up the normal park routine. Race, pretend to be Avengers, and imagine your vehicles are aircraft. My younger boys loved this activity, and I need to remember it when we get into a summer funk.
4} Draw Something
Mom’s Pin-tastic art projects aren’t always a hit around here, so when my oldest asks me if I want to draw with him during quiet/nap time, I try my best to say yes. And even then I try to quiet my creative voices and follow his steps. Most days that means smelly markers and construction paper or dry erase boards and Expo markers. We might play a round of hangman, perhaps a little tic-tac-toe. But overall it’s nice to create together without parameters or pressure. No one has to “do their best” or make the grade. And sometimes you just might find yourselves sneaking in a bit of learning.
5} Geocache
One of my more outdoors-y friends has been talking about this for years! I couldn’t wait to try this treasure hunting adventure with my kids. You sign up, grab your phone, and prepare to join a worldwide community in your search. We are total beginners here, but on our first journey, we are 1 for 2 on our search. You might need a larger chunk on time to spend together for this activity {and I would recommend for ages 4+}, but there’s something special in the teamwork required for the hunt, and your faces upon finding a “treasure” – priceless!
6} Light Saber Bubble Battles
Perhaps it’s been a doozy of a day and you need to take the action outside. Or maybe you’ve exhausted the simple act of bubble-blowing. It’s time to “Use the Force” Jedi mom and take your padawans outside for some lightsaber practice. You get a sense of calm blowing the bubbles; they find their “calm” in the swing of the lightsabers.
And guess what? You might try these activities, and they flop! Perhaps you don’t find a cache. Perhaps it’s just too hot to want to ride around the park on your bikes. Take a deep breath, and don’t put any pressure on yourselves. Grab a Sonic drink together or make a homemade smoothie, and try again another day. Have fun, Momma. Have fun.
I get so frustrated with the term “boy mom” as though it excludes mom who have a girl (or girls). I have 3 boys and 1 girl. I am not any less of a boy mom than a girl mom. I’m a mom of both amd I still “get” the conundrum that is the typical toddler boy even though I also have a girl. I never see “girl mom” shirts. Sorry, vent over. Praise to all moms, of boys and girls.
Elizabeth, I have to admit that I’m not fully on the “girl mom/boy mom” train. We are just moms. This post is simply just a way for mothers and sons to connect. Sure, moms and daughters can do the same activities, have a blast, and boost their relationship as well. I have three boys, and it’s what I know and want to share. Thanks for your comment, and check Etsy — I bet you can find your “girl mom” shirt.
Also, this post didn’t mention “boy mom.” 😉