My kids are easily entertained by home movies. Tonight we canceled a meeting in order to have "family night" as it was the only evening we would all be able to simply relax together this week. It is shocking to see the passage of time and recall those moments forever recorded in the Larson archives. We tied ourselves up in stitches laughing at hair-do's, expressions, outfits, and dramatic outbursts involving worms and fishing poles. Dance recitals in which little girls are frozen in space from stage-fright and memory loss, birthday parties with preschool friends who are now together in 3rd grade, a little boy using a pretend push mower while wearing pull-ups and the worst one yet, mulitple birthday parties of my daughter from beginning to end while my son was short-changed with a mere highlight of learning to be potty trained. The cruelty!
The experiences also illuminate the times as a parent that I find myself doing that which I exactly profess to avoid, "going through the motions," versus truly thriving in the moment. In many respects this embarrasses me. Why was I not more enthusiastic when doing the "Hokey Pokey?" I mean really, if that's what its all about then I should be throwing my whole self in rather than forcing the parent hostess smile. Or the time at Disney when nearly every audio has the sharp command from mom of, "smile, say thank-you, stand still, look at the camera." Boy, that had to be fun for the kids.
There is something about having a degree of type A personality that wants experiences to be perfect, yet in trying to facilitate this perfection it results in being a forced and uncomfortable experience. While I try to invest time in work tasks to make the experience valuable and effective for clients the same effort seems to backfire when kids and family are at stake. Letting go and having fun would make huge strides in future video performances. Any suggestions for letting go and having fun?
Pilates has a framework and a set series of exercise--we can tweak them and increase the intensity of the moves but the exercises are performed with a strict adherence to form and motion. I value this framework as it provides direction toward progressing our strength and flexibility. Parenting on the other hand lacks the framework and the practical advancement which comes with mastery of a skill. There can be a sense of swimming in circles versus making any progress. What the videos do reveal however are two great kids, who listen to their parents even when the camera does capture mom off of her "open leg rocker." Pilates is best accomplished by promoting a relaxed state of being through mindful breathing. Perhaps this same relaxed, breathing technique would reveal a genuine smile at the next Bunny Hop and Hokey Pokey event. Sadly enough we have probably already outgrown those party games but to be connected with the kids in their routine days...genuinely listening, caring and laughing will lessen my robotic interaction with my favorite kids.
There is something about having a degree of type A personality that wants experiences to be perfect, yet in trying to facilitate this perfection it results in being a forced and uncomfortable experience. While I try to invest time in work tasks to make the experience valuable and effective for clients the same effort seems to backfire when kids and family are at stake. Letting go and having fun would make huge strides in future video performances. Any suggestions for letting go and having fun?
Pilates has a framework and a set series of exercise--we can tweak them and increase the intensity of the moves but the exercises are performed with a strict adherence to form and motion. I value this framework as it provides direction toward progressing our strength and flexibility. Parenting on the other hand lacks the framework and the practical advancement which comes with mastery of a skill. There can be a sense of swimming in circles versus making any progress. What the videos do reveal however are two great kids, who listen to their parents even when the camera does capture mom off of her "open leg rocker." Pilates is best accomplished by promoting a relaxed state of being through mindful breathing. Perhaps this same relaxed, breathing technique would reveal a genuine smile at the next Bunny Hop and Hokey Pokey event. Sadly enough we have probably already outgrown those party games but to be connected with the kids in their routine days...genuinely listening, caring and laughing will lessen my robotic interaction with my favorite kids.
A wise woman once told me, that if you go on vacation and emotions are rekindled and passions are restored then the problem within the relationship is likely the day to day stress of keeping people happy, work, and the critical need to keep your children well and thriving. With that in mind I am encouraged that we are where we need to be as a family because our vacation was one of fun, quiet communication, and beach play. We all need to test our strength from time to time...maybe core strength, maybe spiritual strength, perhaps relational well-being. Analyze those smiles you see on family videos--are they genuine or simply provided out of necessity. What steps would you take to find greater authentic smiles in your own life? Do your smiles reflect happiness or something more or something less?
Thanks for reading and thank you for your Pilates commitment!
Sweet Dreams
Thanks for reading and thank you for your Pilates commitment!
Sweet Dreams
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