July 2012 Naples Children Museum

We visited the new Naples Children Museum.  It was incredible.... very well designed with so many opportunities for imaginative play.  They had a room for each season.... fall was our favorite.... raking leaves... picking pumpkins.... they even had a tree with a fan built in so after you would rake the leaves you would put your pile in the trunk and it would blow out the top of a huge tree and make it appear as if the leaves were freshly falling on an autumn day..... 

The train room and recycle area were of course a huge hit with my little trucker!  They had an electric car for the kids to play in.... Let's just say it was hard to Casen out of it.....

There was just so much to do....

Mommy Moment:

I get nervous sometimes with taking the 3 of them by myself to a crowded place.... worried that they may wander.... not listen.... how will I watch them all?  But I realized how well behaved they can be.

 (Disclaimer:  I said, "can be".  This means in no way... shape or form is this a thing.... it is simply stating that the potential is there.... we are still subject to daily melt downs.... by one or all at any given time.... where my voice and directions are not heard by their little ears.... or comprehended..... we are still subject to daily "breaks" from our siblings, environment, dog or even mommy.... ok...continuing on now...)

 This museum trip has taught me that all the thought that Greg and I put into determining the expectations for our children and the practice of consistency and evaluation as to what is working and what is not..... is worth it.

Parenting is hard.... decisions that come up.... mind boggling.... 

We are surrounded by so many different types of families..... 

determining what you want for your own and how to go about achieving it.... all while having an open mind and flexibility.... for any number of things you may not have considered.....

TOUGH

I thank God for the partner he has provided me with to steer our family and guide our ship.

Without Greg.... well I couldn't even imagine.

I pray that God continues to be with us on this journey of raising 3 little ones.... in His path.... through this complex world.... where things so often do not align with what is right and just.

Give us the vision to truly see our children as individuals and loosen our grip on things that may not be right for one..... but right for the other....

Amen