“I don’t want to grow up” day

Last week my sweet four-year old son came up to me with the saddest look on his face. With tears in his eyes he whimpered, “mom, I don’t want to grow up!” It was cute and heartbreaking all at the same time. I could not figure out where it was coming from and I didn’t really know what to tell him. We talked about it for a bit and I discovered that he loves his toys and he likes being a little boy (of course). I decided what he needed that day was fun. Not just a little fun, but we needed to do all the things he always wants to do, but I say no to because we don’t have enough time, or it’s too messy, or because I just don’t want to. I declared that we have an “I don’t want to grow up” day and even though my sink was full of dishes and I had laundry piles waiting to be washed and my floor desperately needed to vacuumed I put it off to have fun with my little boy.

The rules of the day were: to have fun, to do as many “kid” things as we could, to not say “hurry” one single time, and to turn off the computer. Simple enough, right?

We went to Target and looked at the toy aisles for an hour. A whole entire hour, and boy was he delighted. I wanted one of the rules to be not to spend money because I didn’t want that to be the message of the day, but after spending an hour in the toy aisle I decided a two dollar action figure was okay.

 

Then we went and rolled and ran down a hill.

 

We played at the playground.

 

We played in the sand. We tried to build castles, but he was happy to just throw it.

 

We went home and made play doh and then finger painted.

 

We built a fort in the front room and then we read stacks of books inside.

 

We also made mini volcanoes with baking soda and vinegar, danced to silly songs, and then went out for ice cream cones.

Now I feel like I need to say that I never intended to post this on the blog. I didn’t do this for content on my blog or to show off one of my good mommy moments. I decided to post this because it was an eye-opening day for me. We both had so much fun and I loved to see his smiles all day and to hear him open up about life while he painted pictures of spiders. It was great to see his excitement over something as simple as a hill. It was so fun to play with him with no distractions. But mostly going an entire day with the thought in my head that he isn’t going to be little forever made me realize that I need to have more days like this. He doesn’t want to grow up and I’m not ready for him to grow up yet either! I don’t want to look back and wish I said no less and played more.

Go have fun with your kids today! Get out the paints, the glitter, the play doh, get outside, or dance like you’re 5 again. The best part is you don’t have to spend the whole day doing it either. Start with one thing, maybe something that you always say no to. Have fun!!

It was so nice to see his genuine smiles all day long, I didn’t have to deal with this nonsense. (Please tell me somebody can relate.)

2 comments
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  • Well I know I feel like the QUEEN of ‘hurry up!’ ‘We don’t have TIME’, etc. Working 45 + hours a week and being in management is a difficult thing with two small boys at home who are dying for some attention.

    We did a ‘SUPRISE’ day with mom this summer when I took them to school then video taped them when I said ‘Just kidding, no school, let’s go to the water park’

    They still talk about that day…I need to do it more often. Soon they’ll be teenagers and won’t want to do anything with dull old mother.

    Great post!ReplyCancel

  • Camille

    Loved this Melissa! It is so easy to forget and rush through the day to day routine. And you are an amazing Mommy!ReplyCancel

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Hello! I am Camille, a wife, mother of four, Disney obsessed, certified teacher, and reality optimist. Motherhood comes with its ups and downs, and I hope while you're here you'll find something that makes your #momlife easier!

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