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You are here: Home / Me / My public declaration to be a “down in the dirt” mama

My public declaration to be a “down in the dirt” mama

June 17, 2013 By Erin L. 10 Comments

I simply despise getting my hands dirty.  In fact, I really don’t like being any sort of messy.

I don’t like gardening.   Putting my hand in a garbage disposal is done out of necessity and always with a disgusted look at my face.  I don’t play in the sand.  I handle raw chicken like it could reach up and lick me at any second.

But lately I’ve been feeling like it’s hindering my parenting.  I don’t particularly care for play dough and I am not a fan of finger paint.  I’ve never just let my kids play with shaving cream or flour and water – all because I don’t want to deal with the mess.

That ends today.

My children’s formative years are short.  It is merely a matter of time before they no longer want to play with me, so I need to get over myself and GET. IN. THERE.

This hit me in the face yesterday like a Mack truck hurtling down the highway.  My daughter was in the pantry and pulled out the bag filled with play dough.  I heard myself groan, if only to myself, but got it out anyway.  For 20 minutes, she made me “food” and gave it to me to eat.  All she wanted in the whole world was for me to pretend (which I absolutely love to do with her) and pretend with play dough.  So we did.

Yes, I had green and purple under my nails.  Yes, I found it on the floor throughout the rest of the evening. Yes, a few bits and pieces somehow managed to get into the carpet.

But it didn’t matter.  What mattered was how happy my daughter was in the moment – that brief, fleeting moment.

Soon enough, she’ll be grown. She’ll be off, wanting to play with friends vs. digging around in the dirt with me.  I need to take advantage of this time, instead of risking the fact that I’ll be looking back with regret.

I don’t want to regret a single solitary second – thinking I should have played more.

So today, I vow to get messy.  I vow to play in the mud and delight in worms and roly-polys.  I vow to bury myself in sand at the beach to the delight of my children and I vow to not utter one peep of disgust or annoyance.

I only have 18 years with my children.  Most of that time is going to spent in school, learning, growing, developing without me.  I need to envelop myself in the now and take advantage while they are small, while they still love me no matter what I do or say.  I want to make sure that they look back and remember that I PLAYED with them.

It’s time for me to get messy.

I Vow to Be a Down in the Dirt Mama

 

 

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Filed Under: Me, parenting

Comments

  1. Nicole Feliciano says

    June 17, 2013 at 8:18 pm

    There is all the time in the world for tidy and neat. Love your attitude!

    Reply
    • Erin L. says

      June 18, 2013 at 12:22 pm

      Thanks Nicole! I’m ready for it…and the kids are too!

      Reply
  2. Marissa Latshaw says

    June 17, 2013 at 10:32 pm

    The Right kind of “leaning in”

    Reply
    • Erin L. says

      June 18, 2013 at 12:22 pm

      Thanks! I think so too!

      Reply
  3. Valerie says

    June 19, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    Good for you!!! Next up, oobleck, slime and and goop! 😉

    Reply
  4. Erica Mueller says

    June 20, 2013 at 3:53 pm

    That is the cutest picture! I have boys and I don’t mind getting messy. I do mind being inconvenienced. I’m having to get over myself too.

    Reply
  5. Suz says

    June 27, 2013 at 8:01 pm

    Love this!

    Reply
  6. Owen Candill says

    March 10, 2015 at 8:52 am

    I like it. I Love your attitude, Post and the pictures are superb. Good way to spend a time with children by doing gardening even you don’t like gardening. Great job.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 5 things I resolve to do in 2014 | My Family Blog says:
    December 31, 2013 at 11:44 am

    […] sometimes I feel like I’m on the sidelines instead of out on the playing field. I need to get down and dirty. I should have paint and play dough under my finger nails. My shoes should be muddy. This year, I […]

    Reply
  2. Yes, it can be hard to play with your kids | My Family Blog says:
    February 4, 2014 at 4:45 pm

    […] past year, I made a vow to be more of a “down in the dirt” mama.  I really hate all things messy but kids love it. So I’m trying really hard to get over it […]

    Reply

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