Play Today

I traveled to New York City this past weekend. My mom and I visited my sister and brother. It was a reconnection that was long overdue. I picked up a book called "Playful Parenting" by Lawrence Cohen. His ideas about using play to reconnect with your kids and . The pages are filled with examples of a child acting out and then the parent choosing in the moment to not see it as misbehavior but as a cry for reconnection. I have been away from my family for a couple few days and I miss them. In the pangs of a little home sickness I can't imagine being anything but patient with my kids. But the truth is, we are all impatient parents at times. We all struggle at times with the feelings of just being bored with the routine we have. We all feel at times like we don't have any IDEAS. Maybe we feel like we are not CAPABLE in this moment to give our children what we need. I have a friend that jokingly says to her kids as she works or talks with my "Go and DO, go and Do {somewhere else}" In Playful Parenting Cohen writes "The fact is, we adults don't have much room in our lives for fun and games. Our days are filled with stress obligations and hard work. We may be stiff, tired, and easily bored when we try to get on the floor and play with children-especially when it means switching gears from a stressful day of work or household chores. We might be willing to do what they want-but then we get annoyed when they don't play the way we expect or when they demand too much from us"

The fact is we all need play. I am better off every time I connect with my kids on the floor, paint with my kids, beat on drums with them, or run around outside. It's a continual cycle of connecting, disconnecting, and reconnecting. This deep need to be child like, let loose, and be playful, makes sense to me. I opened Art Life to meet those needs in people I teach. After visiting NYC (the city where I lived and found my footing on my creative path), I once again realized that filling yourself up and those you love by playing -can go a long long way. Today I will see misbehavior as just a cry for reconnection instead of misbehavior.

Today after school, a family I know is coming in for an art playdate. The whole family making art together, making messes and connecting. I am thrilled to see people connect this way and I want to offer a playful place. A place where people and families are free from rules, obligations, and most of all boredom. PLAY TODAY!